Premier and Minister for Finance Andrew Fahie has assured all teachers and education stakeholders that his government has made it their top priority to restore schools across the territory, allocating some $8.5 million in the 2022 budget to achieve this goal.
The premier made the comment while delivering the territory’s 2022 Budget Speech in the House of Assembly on Thursday November 11.
He said that schools across the territory have not been upkept or properly maintained over the last few decades, adding that the impact of the 2017 hurricanes made the bad situation even worse.
He commended teachers for persevering in such environments and for their continued commitment and dedication, as he assured them that his government has placed top priority in the 2022 budget to allocate the necessary funds to restore schools across the territory.
Topping the upgrades will be the Elmore Stoutt High School, which he said has been allocated just over $7 million to have their rehabilitation programme moving forward.
The premier also addressed the works that will be done on the Isabella Morris Primary School which he said will be the first junior high school in the territory, once work have been completed.
He said, “In the upcoming year, redevelopment of the Elmore Stoutt High School campus will move forward. This includes constructing classrooms and supporting facilities to provide a modern campus for learning and development for our students. Just over $7 million is already allocated for this initiative in the 2022 Budget. All our students and teachers will finally be moving from the CTL building to the Elmore Stoutt High School campus where they belong and in proper facilities in time for the 2022-2023 school year.”
He added, “Demolition work on the Isabella Morris Primary School began on 1 October, 2021. We have allocated in the 2022 Budget $200,000 to fund design development and engineering works to inform the construction and development of a new modern facility with SMART and safe standards to ensure a resilient and functional school for the children and teachers of Carrot Bay and neighbouring communities. When completed it will be known as the Isabelle Morris Junior High School. Our intent, led by the Minister of Education, is to ensure a few Junior Schools are built throughout the Territory, and this will be the first one.”
Works also set for the schools on the sister islands
The finance minister also outlined some of the works that will happen on the schools which are located on the sister islands of Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada.
“On Jost Van Dyke, our teachers and students have borne a lot and they have been very, very, very patient over the years, and especially since Irma and Maria. Four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) is allocated towards commencement of the construction of a modern school building that is fitting of what they deserve,” he said.
“We continue to restore functionality to the Bregado Flax Educational Centre on Virgin Gorda. Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is allocated to complete ongoing works at this facility – and even more funds if needed through the Rehabilitation of Schools vote. Additionally, $800,000 is allocated for the redevelopment of the Eslyn Henley Richez Special Needs Learning Centre, to provide a restored learning environment with smart and safe standards for students with special needs. Our special needs students deserve better. And in 2022, in this Budget, better they will get,” the premier further explained.
The finance minister also revealed that a further $1 million is allocated through local funding for rehabilitation and remedial works on various schools across the territory, but said that total will be increased to $2 million following an overview of all the concerns that needs addressing at each school.