The newly constructed and handed-over Ritchies Early Childhood Institution.-photo by George Henry
George Henry, Gleaner Writer
Ritchies, Clarendon:Teachers and students at the Ritchies Early Childhood Institution in north-west Clarendon are now enjoying more comfortable surroundings following the construction and official handover of a new facility in the community.
The new institution, which has the capacity to accommodate more than 100 students, was handed over to the community at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 2, at which education minister Ronald Thwaites was the guest speaker.
The education minister said the new institution would be of great significance to the community. He praised the leadership and members of the Beulah Missionary Church for partnering in the construction of the new school building and pledged that the process to have the institution operate as an infant school, so that it could benefit from the coffers of the Government, is to commence shortly.
spacious classrooms
The facility, which was constructed at a cost of $29 million, provided by the Caribbean Development Bank under the Community Investment Project through the Jamaica Social Invest Fund, replaces the Ritchies Basic School, which was located on the compound of the Beulah Missionary Church in the community. It comprises three spacious classrooms, a canteen, sickbay, bathrooms, a play area, as well as an office for the principal.
The Ritchies Early Childhood Institution, which was constructed by Ricam Construction, meets the standards of the Early Childhood Commission. It has three teachers, including the principal, and two ancillary workers. It was constructed with the assistance of residents of the community in an effort to lessen the cost of labour.
In the meantime, member of Parliament for the area, Richard Azan, while bringing greetings, thanked the board of the church for donating the land for the construction of the school. He also called on parents who have children in attendance to ensure that the fees for their children are paid to assist with the running of the facility.
Azan also used the opportunity to call on the Government to do what is necessary to assist teachers who retire from the classroom of institutions like the Ritchies Early Childhood Institution. He said there are too many teachers who retire from basic schools who are now suffering because they do not have a pension to live off comfortably during their retirement years.
