Patterson
SANTA CRUZ, St. Elizabeth:
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson has again endorsed education for all, as the central plank of national development, and a primary focus of his administration.
Speaking at the official handing-over ceremony for the building extension of the Siloah Primary School, St Elizabeth, on Thursday, the Prime Minister said educational opportunities were open to every single child in Jamaica, and that none should be turned away from school because their parents could not afford to pay for their education.
"If I have one determination in my life it is to extend to every Jamaican boy and girl the opportunities for educational advancement I was able to enjoy," said Mr. Patterson.
He said it was because of this commitment why, outside of debt servicing, education enjoys the largest portion percentage of the budget, some $25 billion.
Referring to the Government's School Feeding Programme, Mr. Patterson said his administration provides 195,000 students with lunch daily, for which $494 million was allocated in the last budget for this purpose.
The Prime Min-ister said that in 2002/03, Govern-ment spent some $300 million on the cost-sharing programme where nearly 21,000 students benefited with 12,561 having their school fees fully paid.
And: "More than 24,000 students in high schools continue to receive support from government with the payment of GCE and CXC examination fees for five core subjects."
He noted that Government has set a target of 90 per cent daily attendance at the primary school level by 2005, to improve on the 84.7 per cent attendance rate recorded in 2002.
In St. Elizabeth, there are now 35 primary schools, 35 all-age schools, five junior high schools, five secondary schools, one agricultural school, one technical high school and one teachers' college.
The three new blocks constructed at the school include a library and a computer lab. The $31 million project ran for 18 months.
Two computers were presented to the school by National Commercial Bank (NCB) at the function. Mr. Patterson promised to give 10 more computers to the school.
