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100 new schools
Gov't seeking financing to increase space at primary, secondary levels
BY PATRICK FOSTER, Observer writer fosterp@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, July 23, 2009
GOVERNMENT will be seeking assistance from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for the construction of 100 new schools over the next two years to increase space at both primary and secondary levels.
According to Minister of Education Andrew Holness, a team from the IFC - an arm of the World Bank - is scheduled to visit the island next week to discuss the application of a public/private partnership (PPP) under which the schools are expected to be constructed.
Holness did not say disclose the amount of money that was being sought to built the new schools, but told journalist at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that it would cost about US$6 million to build each school, using traditional building methods. But he said while a special 'system building' method was being considered for the 100 schools, which could reduce unit costs by as much as 50 per cent.
Funding the construction of the schools using this approach, Holness said, would reduce the initial outlay to Government and provide the required school space in the short term.
He added that a systems building method of construction would provide additional savings if the total number the schools were constructed en bloc.
"The best thing about building out the infrastructure in the short term is that we will not have to contend with the problems [of space] for several decades," Holness told reporters.
The minister said that 20 per cent of the cohort between the ages three and 18 years old were not attending school. "We want to build out the infrastructure to accommodate that 20 per cent," he said, adding that Government was striving towards compulsory education for all Jamaican children.
"We want to make sure that every Jamaican child has a place in a school," Holness said.
"It is not an impossible task; it would require us to build about 100 schools and repair and expand existing schools," he added.
The education minister explained that the public/private partnership being sought would be administered much the same way as the Highway 2000 project where partners funded the construction and operation of the schools and were repaid over an extended period, "usually 30 years". (
) but ah wha dis faada!The education minister was, however, uncertain about local private sector participation in such a venture, saying that overseas partners may have to be sought.
".While we may not have the full capacity we can strike partnerships with companies abroad," he said.
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