By Christopher Graham, Freelance Writer 
Some of the children who have benefited from the special touch of Sister Teresi Tinanisolo (inset), who has been the driving force behind the Holy Family Basic School.
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE MINISTRY of Education says it is bent on curtailing the problem of overcrowding in Montego Bay schools. According to Ministry officials, the aim is to have 35 students to one teacher by the year 2003.
"All Primary and All-Age schools should be staffed at one teacher to 35 students ratio if all goes well by 2003", said Jasper Lawrence, Regional Director for the Ministry's Region Four.
Last year, four top primary schools in Montego Bay reported serious cases of overcrowding with teacher student ratios in some cases being one teacher to seventy students. This prompted the Ministry's Region Four office to identify schools on the outskirts of Montego Bay to accommodate additional students. The Bogue Hill All-Age and Granville All-Age schools will both benefit from expansion work through funding from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). Two extra classrooms were also constructed at Granville All-Age. At Irvin Hill All-Age, through the joint effort of the school and community, repairs were done to an entire block.
According to Mr. Lawrence, a number of schools have also been supplied with additional furniture though the problem has not been completely solved. Schools receiving furniture through the Ministry are; Flankers Primary and Junior High which received 100 desks and chairs, Farm and Glendevon both received 50 and Catherine Hall, 30.
He added that the procurement unit still had additional furniture which had not yet been delivered. "We are moving towards having adequate spaces available at the secondary level also". He said that announcements will be made in the future regarding the construction of additional schools and the upgrading of curriculum delivery.
However, at Bogue Hill All-Age administrators are crying out for assistance, claiming that they are in desperate need for classrooms. "We are in need of classrooms now and the environment here is right for learning" said Mrs. Olive Jackson, Vice Principal. She added that classrooms capable of accommodating 25 students, now has over 45 students and that though there is availability of land, classrooms are definitely needed.
But while overcrowding prevails at Bogue Hill, Ms. Estelle Bailey, Principal of Tower Hill All-Age School, only five minutes away is reporting an abundance of space at her school. Ms. Bailey told The Gleaner that this additional space has resulted in the conversion of classrooms into a Library and display area. "The Ministry must insist that these Montego Bay schools should take students in their area and recognise the importance of zoning", she said. The Ministry did not identify Tower Hill as one of the schools with available space.
Mr. Lawrence heaped high praises on the P.T.A., school boards, communities, principals and teachers for their level of co-operation and effort which contributed to the success of the first school term.
