Roger Clarke High School powered by BGLC generator

Some 70 per cent of the student population of Roger Clarke High School in Balaclava, St Elizabeth have returned to classes following the recent donation of a generator by the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC).

“It has helped to transform school life considerably,” principal George Lewis acknowledged. “Students, teachers, parents and the community as a whole are very appreciative.”

The community of Balaclava was one of those hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa with infrastructural damage to the Roger Clarke High School and the loss of electricity for over three months.

“During this time, we reopened on November 17 of last year on a staggered basis with 30 per cent of the population returning,” Lewis said. “We started with the Grades 11 – 13 cohorts, those preparing for exit exams.

“It was challenging as some of our subjects naturally require electricity for students to complete their preparations to do these exams, computer courses: information technology, electronic document preparation and management and architectural, electrical and mechanical engineering drawings, subjects for school-based assessments (SBAs).

“ In addition, most of our students do not have computers at home so there’s a reliance on what is being provided here at Roger Clarke High. With the donation of this generator by the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission, 70 per cent of the population is back in school, and a sense of normalcy has returned.”

The generator, noted Lewis, is powering the administrative offices and a computer lab.

“It has also facilitated many students and parents to have school uniforms ironed at the school as, although electricity has returned generally to Balaclava, it continues to fluctuate with work still ongoing in various districts,” the principal said.

“With this generator, in a word, we are electrified.”

Wendy Robertson, communication manager at the BGLC, said the commission understood that restoring power is about more than electricity.

“It’s about restoring access to education, stability, and hope,” said Robertson.

“We are pleased that this donation is helping students and teachers at Roger Clarke High School to return to learning and to rebuilding a sense of normalcy after Hurricane Melissa.”

BGLC Executive Director Vitus Evans said that, as a national regulator, the commission recognised its responsibility to support communities in times of crisis.

“This generator represents our commitment to education continuity and to helping affected schools recover stronger after Hurricane Melissa,” said Evans.