EDUCATION Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon officially unveiled the newly merged Hydel Cumberland High School Monday, declaring that the unification wasn’t about erasing either school’s identity, but rather combining the best of their traditions to create a single learning environment better equipped to serve students and make fuller use of existing resources.

“I love to see the new motto: ‘On the wings of excellence, endeavour to soar.’ And that’s a merger of the two mottos of the two schools. So even starting with the name, we merged the two schools. With the motto, we have merged the two schools and their ethos,” Morris Dixon said Monday while delivering greetings at the name unveiling ceremony at the school’s campus in Portmore, St Catherine.

As she helped to officiate both the historic first day of the school and the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, Morris Dixon explained that Cumberland High School had a capacity for 1,200 students but had only been operating with just over 300 students when she visited about a year ago. She added that the infrastructural challenges at Hydel High, coupled with Cumberland’s available space, made the merger a practical option.

“One of the things we had thought about was potentially moving the children in little groups to different schools, putting them all around St Catherine. But I think this is the best option. I think this was quite strategic in nature, and that’s how we’re going to continue to do this restructuring of education in Jamaica — be strategic — because now that we have one institution instead of two, it means we can direct more resources to one… that is our plan,” said Morris Dixon.

Already, significant investment is being made in the new school. The minister announced that $70 million is being spent to improve its electrical system while work is also being done on the home economics laboratory.

She added that the school’s parking lot will be expanded to accommodate the increased number of staff, while upgrades to the sporting facilities are also planned.

“So there’s a lot that will happen here, and Principal [Carlon Pitt] can ask for everything he wants. Principal, we’ve already granted your first wish, which was more students, but your success, the success of this merged institution, is really important to the Ministry of Education. We are very much committed to it. We’re committed to seeing the traditions work together and to achieve so much more,” she said.

Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon (left) helps students Rickara Cameron (second left) and Sekou Mcintosh on Monday with the symbolic pouring of sand, marking the joining of two entities, while principal of the newly merged Hydel Cumberland High School Carlon Pitt looks on.

Morris Dixon acknowledged, however, that bringing together two established school communities would not be without challenges but promised that her ministry would be strongly supporting the school’s leadership to smoothly navigate any trials that may arise.

“There are understandable emotions when schools merge. I know there is sadness from some who are, you know, leaving a space that they’re used to. There are those who are seeing all these new children come and these new teachers come. There are a lot of emotions involved in this, and so I want to acknowledge those emotions. Change is never easy; it’s always hard. And us adults, we sometimes have a harder time than the children with change,” she said.

“So teachers, I know this is an emotional period for you… I know that you’re great, I know you’re wonderful, I have no doubt that we have the best teachers in this world in Jamaica, so I know we can get through this. The ministry is here to support, in whatever way we can, to the students who may be coming to this new environment. You have a good principal, you have a good team here; you’re going to be okay,” Morris Dixon assured.

Principal Pitt told the Jamaica Observer that as the former head of Cumberland High he was highly receptive to the idea of a school merger.

Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon (centre) shakes hands with Hydel Cumberland High School Principal Carlon Pitt after unveiling the name of the newly merged institution in Portmore, St Catherine, on Monday. With them are students and permanent secretary in the education ministry Dr Kasan Troupe (second right).

Welcoming this new chapter in his career, Pitt emphasised that his vision focuses heavily on academics while prioritising students’ holistic development.

Highlighting Cumberland’s status as a leading Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution in St Catherine, alongside Hydel’s strong culture of sports and academics, the principal noted that the merger offers the perfect opportunity to fulfill his goals.

“Whatever we do in school, it must result in student outcome, the students must be the biggest beneficiary of whatever we do. And so the primary focus is on adding value, value-added education, adding value to the students with respect to their starting point and where they exit. So far we have added more sciences to the curriculum. We have now the traditional sixth form… we have a sports programme to roll out that we are excited about, and so with all of these things it is about the holistic development of the child,” Pitt said.