Aid flows in for Trench Town Primary
Published:Thursday | April 21, 2011 | 12:00 AM
- Staff, student population increases
- US Navy refurbishes computer lab
Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter
HELP HAS been pouring into the Trench Town Primary School in St Andrew since The Gleaner reported on the challenges facing the institution.
The institution, which has been the pride and joy of the inner-city community, has been grappling with difficulties such as inadequate resources, poor attendance, malnourished students, dwindling student and staff population, poor security, community violence and theft.
But the school is reporting that it is on a path of recovery with the help of some corporate entities and the benevolence of a number of individuals.
"There are improvements. Since the story was published, we got overwhelming support. Programmes have been put in place. We have got a lot of help, so when the literacy result is published in June, we are expecting a major improvement," acting senior teacher Janice Spencer Francis said.
There is already an increase in the attendance rate, which she attributes to the school's breakfast programme, now offered every morning.
"The attendance rate improved, especially for Fridays when we normally see fewer students attending, and I know it is because of the breakfast programme which we have got help with so that we can offer it every morning at school," she added.
decline in student population
In an interview with The Gleaner in January, school administrators said the institution has been suffering from a significant decline in the population and a huge drop in student performance.
The number of students attending the school had fallen from 1,600 students to 150. That has since changed, Spencer Francis said.
"We got a few new students and we are hoping that for September, we will see a major increase from 176 to 350 students."
The teacher encouraged the parents and other community members to get on board to continue the work of improvement.
"We would love if there is more parental support. Also, we want them to see that it is a community school and they should protect it," she added.
Meanwhile, principal Merline Sewell-Sullivan said the US Navy has been on board helping the school with lighting. She said the US Navy has also been helping to refurbished its computer lab, which was recently broken into, as well as to get the school involved in planting some cash crops.
supportive staff
The school also got help from other entities to refurbish the school facility and is to get a controlled playing area constructed.
She praised the school's staff for their efforts in trying to improve the standards of the school.
"I have a very good support staff. The workers promote the school in whatever way they can. We also have our internal strategy which we used to increase our literacy and numeracy," the principal said.
She added that the school will continue to foster a good relationship with the parents and the community so that they could see continued improvement.
That was evident at the school yesterday as the school hosted a health fair where persons benefited from a variety of medical checks offered by the US Navy and a number of health professionals from the Corporate Area.