In a major stride toward improving early childhood education, the Ministry of Education has officially broken ground on a new pre-school facility in Tivoli, St Andrew.
The sod turning ceremony, held on Friday, 5 June marks the beginning of construction on the Sacred Heart Catholic Pre-School — a EC$1.5 million project.
Funded by the Government of Grenada, with support from the OECS PEARL Programme, the project includes EC$312,000 from PEARL, in addition to EC$104,000 earmarked for furnishings, playground equipment, and teaching materials. It forms part of the broader Government of Grenada Construction and Expansion Programme. Local contractor Neville Matthew of Matthew Construction Services has been awarded the contract.
The new facility will be built on a vacant lot behind the existing Sacred Heart Catholic School. It will serve as the new home for La Poterie Pre-School, which was relocated to the Sacred Heart compound in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan destroyed the original school building.
Engineer Johnathan Andrew of the Ministry of Infrastructure provided a technical overview, noting that the project will commence in June 2025 and is expected to be completed by April 2026. The 116-foot-long reinforced concrete structure will feature 4 classrooms, each with private restrooms and handwashing stations, alongside a sick bay and a teachers’ lounge. It is designed to withstand regional wind standards and is in line with OECS building codes. The design also incorporates sustainability elements such as rainwater harvesting and passive cooling through high ceilings and strategic window placement.
La Poterie Pre-School’s Teacher-in-Charge Ann Marie Joseph-Bhola expressed deep gratitude after over 2 decades of waiting for improved facilities. “Seeing that new building, my God, I’m excited, I’m elated,” she said. “It shows that we’re going to be working in a new structure with all the amenities we need: enough space, internet access. I’m hoping that it finishes quickly.”
Florina Thomas, Principal of the Sacred Heart Catholic School and a veteran educator of over 40 years, described the occasion as a blessing, saying, “This is a significant milestone. Substantial upgrades like this have been rare. I extend heartfelt thanks to the Government and our partners at OECS PEARL for their investment in our future.”
Parents and guardians were equally enthusiastic. Dessima Burke-Edgar, guardian of one pre-schooler, said, “From what I saw, it’s excellent. What the children have now compared to what they’re going to get — it’s 100% improvement.”
Minister for Education Senator the Hon. David Andrew challenged the community to make the most of this investment. “No amount spent on the education and upliftment of our little ones is too much,” he said. “We are not worried about spending if it’s in the right places, and this is certainly the right place. Let the work begin.”
Astra Mc Kenzie, Ed D, National Coordinator for OECS PEARL, explained that the project was born out of a 2021 audit of 20 pre-primary institutions, which identified 5 schools for targeted support. “Our mission was clear — enhance access to quality early childhood education. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Government’s goals to improve infrastructure and services for our youngest learners.”
Permanent Secretary for Educational Administration, Lorraine St Louis-Nedd, extended appreciation to all partners, including the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance, contractor Neville Matthew, and the project management team. “Your expertise and dedication are essential to the success of this initiative,” she said.
The event was attended by NDC Caretaker for St Andrew North-East Dr Tessa St Cyr, Father Godwin Nnadozie, district education officers and other key education stakeholders.
Ministry of Education
