Running out of room - Buchanan concerned about space at Belmont Academy

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

EASTERN WESTMORELAND Member of Parlia-ment Luther Buchanan has raised concerns about the critical shortage of space at Belmont Academy, which he said could likely affect the pupil-teacher ratio in keeping with the standards of the centre of excellence.

Buchanan said come September more students are to enrol at the school, and there is not enough time for expansion to take place.

Belmont Academy was started in 2009 as a centre of excellence with a 25 to one pupil-teacher ratio.

"The ministry needs to make it clear what is the intention in relation to maintaining the student-to-teacher ratio, in keeping with the centre of excellence theory, under which the school was implemented. We want to know whether or not we are going to maintain that or we are going to move it to being a regular high school," he argued.

The MP said the use of containers as classrooms is one option that is being looked at to accommodate the students.

Meanwhile, Audrey Sewell, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, admitted that there is a shortage of space at the institution, saying that the school requires five more classrooms if it should maintain a 25 to one pupil-teacher ratio.

She, however, said construction of new classrooms will commence soon with the aim to have it completed for September, when the next academic year begins.

"The National Education Trust is currently advanced in its plans to commence the construction of additional classrooms and washrooms. The Bill of Quantities is being prepared, and the work will be tendered soon," she said.

Sewell added, "Details on all activities pertinent to the construction are to be finalised with the school administrators."

The permanent secretary said, however, that alternative ways have been considered to accommodate the students, should the process be delayed.

"One of the options we have looked at is the student ratio. It is currently one to 25, and we said if it were to increase to one to 35 that would ease the pressure," she explained.

The permanent secretary declined to divulge detailed information on the alternative measures, but said the ministry will be holding consultation on several options during the course of this week.

Sewell dismissed claims about using containers as classrooms, saying that the ministry has not taken any decision to place containers on the premises to accommodate the students.

"We have not come up with any firm decision, because I need for us to meet to look at the schedule for the construction, and the upgrade of the facility," she said.

The institution started with 200 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and 37 Grade Nine Achievement Test (GNAT) students.

The current enrolment is 410, but there is expected to be 101 GSAT students and 30 GNAT students to be enrolled in September.