Most primary schools to be ready within first term of next school year

The majority of primary schools currently under repairs will be ready within the first term of the 2018/2019 academic year, Education Minister Myron Walwyn has said.

The minister made the remark while delivering his fourteenth update on the progress made in the education system following the hurricanes 2017 hurricanes.

Upon completion, the schools are expected to have access to smart boards and other technology in the classroom, wireless and internet access throughout the institution, solar energy and other green energy saving methods, wheelchair access to and throughout buildings at all levels, and the ability to withstand 185 mile per hour winds and magnitude four earthquakes.

Ivan Dawson Primary School

Repairs to the Ivan Dawson Primary School in Cane Garden Bay are being projected to be ready in the first term of the 2018/2019 academic year, the minister said. He said the undertaking includes drainage, electrical and plumbing works, repairing and replacing the roofs and constructing raised floors on the ground level.

Walwyn said work on rebuilding the bathroom area started this month.

Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary

Another school under reconstruction is Enid Scatliffe Pre-primary in Road Town.

Minister Walwyn said plans are afoot to have it ready for ‘early’ in the first term of the new academic year.

“The design plans and demolition application for the Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary School were approved by Town and Country Planning and Public Works Department,” he said.

Demolition works are slated to begin by the end of June, he added. Meanwhile, the minister said the project is now going through a tender process and the BVI Social Security Board has committed to fund the school’s repairs.

Althea Scatliffe Primary School

Walwyn also said the second phase of repairs to the Althea Scatliffe Primary School are to begin at the end of this academic year. The second phase will see the exterior of the building repainted in time for the 2018/2019 school year.

The first phase, which involved installing new windows, and has already been done.

Leonora Delville Primary School

Moving to the western end of Tortola, Walwyn said 60 percent of the roof at the Leonora Delville Primary School is now complete. The project started on April 21 where the existing roof was replaced with new materials.

He said the next phase would be to install windows and doors as soon as they arrive in the territory. Painting, electrical works, and other minor repairs will follow.

“We remain eager for these works to be completed by the end of June so that our students and teachers can return to a more comfortable classroom environment,” Walwyn said.

Enis Adam Primary School

Walwyn also gave an update on the new Enis Adams Primary School project being funded by founder and former majority owner of Road Town Wholesale, Peter Haycraft.

He said works are currently being done on the school’s steel structure. He said from all indications, the project is on target for the September 2019 completion deadline.