The Ministry of Education held a sod turning ceremony on Tuesday, 22 July for construction of a new block at the Calliste Government School, St George.
The contract was awarded to Collaborative Designs and Consultancy Grouping Ltd., owned and managed by Christopher Whint. The new concrete structure will replace a now-demolished wooden building that has been utilised since the passage of Hurricane Ivan in 2004. It will be built on the same site.
The project is funded by the Government of Grenada under the School Rehabilitation and Expansion Project and is similar to that of the Sacred Heart Catholic School in Tivoli, where a new school block will replace a wooden building used to house the La Poterie Pre-School since Hurricane Ivan.
Lorna Charles, an architect in the Ministry of Infrastructure, presented the designs to the stakeholders of the Calliste Government School. Charles said, “We have had extensive meetings with the stakeholders of the project, that’s the Ministry of Education. We’ve also had meetings with the school itself, because we thought it was important to consult at every stage of the design.”
The first floor of the 2-storey building at the Calliste Government School will house one mathematics and science lab; 5 classrooms; customised washroom facilities for preschoolers; a sick room with ramp access, storerooms and 2 extension offices. The upper level houses the administrative area, which will have a staff room, principal’s and principal assistant’s office, with washrooms; one podium and stage and four classrooms that can be opened into a large auditorium. The structure is designed to resist Category 4 hurricanes, resistant to wind speeds of up to 240 kph. Each classroom can accommodate 20 to 23 students.
Minister for Education Senator the Hon. David Andrew assured that his ministry will continue to invest in 21st-century climate-resilient infrastructure, ensuring the improvement of educational infrastructure island-wide. He is delighted with the special accessibility features for students with special needs and the math and science lab. “The issue of labs is an important one, in an era where there is a shortage of strong performances in math and in science, we are keen to make sure, from the earliest stages, children get their appetite stirred for science, for innovation, for experimentation and, so, we hope to make full use of the labs.
In fact, in some other schools, we are retrofitting, even during this holiday period, to ensure that we have some additional math and science labs, and this is just part of our strategic response,” the Education Minister said. “So, we’re addressing our challenges in a very holistic way at the Ministry of Education.”
Parliamentary Representative for St George South and Minister for Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation Hon. Andy Williams described the project as a deeply personal one for him, knowing the frustrations the staff and students have endured. He said, “This sod turning ceremony is far more than just a ceremonial gesture. It is a promise, a promise that we see the need, we hear your concerns, and we are taking action.”
School Principal Antoinette Lewis is elated and grateful for the expansion, terming it a “transformative” development, which she explained grew from modest ideas to the current design. “We are deeply grateful to the Government of Grenada for its unwavering commitment to education,” Lewis said. “This development is a strategic investment in the future of our students and a critical step in our mission to provide a modern, inclusive and inspiring learning environment.”
Nadia Williams, a guardian of a student at the Calliste Government School, said, “It’s a good investment, because it’s a good venture for the children. They’re going to be a lot happier. The parents are going to be a lot happier. The community is going to be a lot happier.”
Jenelle Fletcher, teacher at the school for almost 10 years and the current teacher-in-charge, is thrilled with the upgrade in facilities. Fletcher began teaching in the wooden building, which did not have attached restroom facilities, among other challenges. She added, “Knowing that we’re getting this new wing, we’re excited.”
While the project is scheduled for 15 months, contractor Christopher Whint wants to have it completed before that, citing 10 months as his goal. He said that due to a current labour shortage on the island, he is awaiting a complement of skilled workers from the Caricom region to commence work.
Officials from the ministries of Education and Infrastructure, including Project Officer Ruth Charles, school representatives and various stakeholders were present at the sod turning ceremony.
Adapted from a Ministry of Education release
