Ministry makes progress installing AC units in schools
The Education Ministry’s phased plan to modernise school infrastructure is delivering tangible results — and this school year, it has brought a welcome relief from the heat in schools across the territory.
Chief Education Officer Orlandette Crabbe has confirmed that several public schools across the territory are now fully air-conditioned, making classrooms more comfortable and conducive to learning.
She stressed the importance of climate control in improving education. Even C-Block — one of the hottest and most poorly ventilated sections of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) — has been outfitted with cooling units.
“Over the summer, the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary Division was fully air-conditioned. The Primary Division had been completed before. At Elmore Stoutt High School, the entire C-Block — including the technical rooms and cooking labs — is now fully air-conditioned,” Crabbe said on the Virgin Islands Voice programme.
The upgrades mark a significant milestone in the government’s ongoing effort to improve education infrastructure. Crabbe said the Ministry of Education plans to continue phasing in AC units at other schools across the territory.
“Everybody knows how hot our climate has become,” she said.
“Sometimes when you go into those classrooms, there is no way learning could take place because you are so uncomfortable. We are happy to be able to do this with the funding we received at the beginning of the year.”
She also thanked the Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr Natalio Wheatley, for supporting the project, while emphasising that more work lies ahead for the Ministry that has seen significant progress in schools since the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
“We always need more because there are lots of things to be done,” Crabbe noted. “Even with all we have mentioned in the way of infrastructure, we still have a lot to do. We have projects ongoing now, we expect to complete some over the next three months, and others will be addressed in the next budget cycle.”
The push to improve air quality and comfort in classrooms is part of a broader education infrastructure upgrade that includes repairs, expansions, and modernization projects in schools across the BVI.
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If architects designed buildings to make use of natural air flow, there would seldom be need for installing air conditioning units. They are expensive to install and upkeep, ugly to look at, and unhealthy to live with.
The house and studio that I designed and built at Hodges Creek fifty years ago, followed the traditional concept of wooden shutters that opened to the trade winds, a tiled roof and tray ceilings. The interior spaces were always cool.
Most important thing is to make sure you never get put on a PRIORITY LIST in the VI.
8 years after IRMA and the Isabella Morris Primary School is still at the maybe we need to think about having a future plan stage. Orlando Smith had plans, even drug runner in Chief Coach Andrew Fahie had plans (which look like they included a secret drug money donor.) Instead of using some of the VI peoples $3,000,000,000 the VI has had to spend in the last 8 years.
Why does the VI peoples money get spent on concerts by the Government and not on schools? Where does it go if it is not spent on things VI needs, and leaves hospitals and schools in VI dependent on charity. Peter Haycraft built Enis Adams school. Unite BVI repairs them. Schools always out begging for money. Why does it not come from Government. Who are Government giving their money to? Does it all go in corruption. Lesmore Smith now having to spend his own money, to do the hospitals dirty laundry, where it should be Government money paying for that.
’’So those would be all the schools that are left, so we are almost there.’’ said S.B. de C. Er No!!!!!!
Apart of course from the Althea Scatliffe, where we have demolished a building across the road, built with funds from another charity benefactor Sir R. B. (before being neglected of maintenance and torn down to leave no evidence of his generosity to the VI people,) and dishonoring his memory, so all we have now is a staging area to dump dirt for the new “imaginery school”. The school that she has forgotten about. Presumably waiting for another benefactor as all the peoples money has been spent on more concerts and flights and whatever else the Government does to flush our money away. The VI Government can’t even change a web page let alone fund and build a school as (gov.vg/sir-rupert-briercliffe-hall) still hasn’t been updated to show that “Its central location and proximity to Althea Scatliffe Primary School make it an easily accessible and highly regarded venue for both locals and visitors.” should now read “Its central location and proximity to Althea Scatliffe Primary School make it an easily accessible venue for staging piles of dirt for the Althea Scatliffe ‘imaginary’ School that is still in desperate need of a charity giver.” Unite BVI once again have the ball rolling for the forgotten school closed in June 2022. (Must have immediately been put on the PRIORITY LIST!!) After Unite BVI have funded the design stage Government will be out cap in hand again to get it built. $100,000,000 loan we are now paying for must have already been divided up between friends family, Northam, the BOA. Who got the share of the missing $20Million.
***** Remember charities. ******* The more you give the more money is left for Government to pass through to friends and famiilies and Steve. Better that charities support private initiatives than funding Government corruption.
Gushe gonna get 90% of the work
Where was the tender notice for these works? Did anyone see it advertised? What was the final value/cost of this project? We need answers now.
All tenders now go on the Government website: gov.vg
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MISTAKES ARE / AND AS SAID BEFORE THE DESIGN IS LIKE A ” CONCENTRATION CAMP ” AND EVEN AFTER YHERE WAS A LOT OT CRITICISM ABOUT THE DESIGN , WHY IS ONLY NOW THEY REALISE THAT THOMEY WOULD HAVE MAKE THE NESSESARY ADJUSTMENTS OF PROPER VENTILATION ? IF THEY WERE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S WELLBEING ? WHERE WERE THEIR MINDS AT ? / TRAVELING / FREE JAMZ ETC , IT SEEMS