NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (August 21, 2013) – Premier and Minister of Education Hon. Vance Amory on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, explained that the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) was currently repairing and improving the schools on the island in an effort to facilitate the education process for students.
Premier Amory, who visited the schools recently, explained that the NIA is repairing the schools on the island to prepare for the new school year which is slated to commence on Sept. 2, 2013.
“As Minister, I have been touring the schools, looking at the renovation works, the repair works which has had to be done to ensure that the schools are in good shape for the children when they return on the 2nd of September. We have looked at the Ivor Walters Primary. We looked at the Elizabeth Pemberton Primary, the Special Education Unit,” he said.
In an interview with the Department of Information during his tour of the Charlestown Secondary School, the Premier said he recognised that the schools are in need of renovations and would that they would undergo serious repairs throughout the year to ensure that the students have a comfortable environment conducive to achieving their educational pursuits.
“We’re looking at the Charlestown Secondary. We did the Gingerland Secondary…and the Joycelyn Liburd Primary School. The reason for that is we know and recognise that all of the schools are in a very serious state of disrepair and we have to get the Public Works initially to do the work but, I think, during the course of the term, we may have some major work to be done and we will have to contract some private contractors to engage in the major work to ensure that our schools are really rehabilitated and really fit for the students who we send there,” he explained.
The Minister of Education assured that the NIA will spare no expense with regard to the advancement of education on the island and would continue to invest in the repairs of these institutions to encourage and further promote education within the schools.
“I am telling you that looking at the schools, we do have some challenges to restore them to a state that our children can feel comfortable and we will do so. I promise we will do so within the course of this year because education is too important for us to skimp in terms of our expenditure and repairs of the infrastructure and payment of monies for the education of our children” he said.
The Minister of Education was accompanied on his visits to the island’s public schools by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Library Services Lornette Queeley-Connor, Permanent Secretary of Human Resources Chesley Manners and NIA Cabinet Secretary Stedmond Tross.