The Barking Lodge Primary and Infant School in St. Thomas now has a new infant facility. The keys to the new building were officially handed over to the Principal, Tania Johnson, during a ceremony on March 10 by W. Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE Fund. The construction of the facility was financed by the Fund at a cost of $41.2M.
The project entailed the renovation and expansion of the existing teacher’s cottage into two classrooms, a sickbay, bathrooms, kitchen and staff offices. Funding also facilitated the provision of the necessary staff and student furniture, kitchen and play equipment as well as the installation of a perimeter fence for the school which has served the community for over 30 years.
Addressing an audience of community stakeholders, teachers, students and parents, W. Billy Heaven, CEO of the CHASE Fund said since inception, the CHASE Fund had invested J$7.04B in the early childhood education sector. “At CHASE we recognize that a child’s formative years are crucial in shaping their lifelong learning and success. That is why since our inception we have worked tirelessly to enhance early childhood education across Jamaica in order to ensure that our youngest minds have access to safe, nurturing and well-equipped learning environment,” Heaven said.
He added that in the current financial year – April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025 – the Fund had added 7,000 sq feet of infrastructure development space in four schools in addition to the other priority areas of upgrading and equipping schools; training of ECI practitioners; and institutional support for Early Childhood Commission initiatives.
The CHASE CEO also highlighted the importance of all stakeholders who play a pivotal role in shaping the development experience of students including educators, parents, caregivers the government agencies and the community.
Dr. Michelle Charles, Member of Parliament for St. Thomas Eastern, acknowledged the CHASE Fund’s investment. “The CHASE Fund has not just renovated and expanded the teacher’s cottage into a fully-equipped infant department, but it has also provided the necessary resources to create a safe and stimulating environment for our youngest learners,” she said.
Dr. Charles noted the construction of the school as an addition to the many developments taking place in the parish, including the completion of the highway from Yallahs to Morant Bay. “This investment in Barking Lodge, is an investment in the future of St. Thomas and it sends a powerful message that our children matter, our teachers deserve the best and our community is worthy of development,” she said. Dr. Charles capped her address with the presentation of clocks to teach time to students and books for the school library.
