A $155 million improvement project has been undertaken at Mt. Alvernia High School in Montego Bay, St. James, including the installation of a solar power electric system and the refurbishing of the school’s chemistry and physics laboratories.
This is courtesy of a partnership between Food For The Poor USA (FFTPUSA) and USAID and its American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Program Worldwide. The inauguration ceremony took place at the school on Thursday, June 1, 2023, during which it was outlined how the project came about.
It was noted that in 2017, Maria Santamarina, Director of Government programmes at Food for the Poor USA made contact with then Senior Vice-Principal at Mount Alvernia, Jeanette Dobson-Vernon. This led to a partnership between Mt. Alvernia High School and USAID/ASHA/ FFTPUSA to improve the school’s facilities.
Subsequently in January 2022 work begun to improve the chemistry and physics laboratories and this resulted in the repair of gas and water lines, the replacement of rusted fixtures, as well as the replacement of termite-infested furniture with termite-resistant furniture.
In addition, the chemistry lab was outfitted with a chemical shower, a 100% revamped lab prep room as well as the installation of two exhaust fans.
During the project, the physically disabled school population was not left out, as ramps were installed on the ground floors for easy access, as well as furniture in both labs that can be lowered to facilitate students who are wheelchair-bound.
Additionally, the school received much-needed information technology and science equipment that sought to help STEM students.
In 2019, the Montego Bay-based school got a grant to install a solar-powered electrical system. This was completed quickly as work started by contractor Solar Buzz commenced in the summer of 2022 and was commissioned on May 21, 2023.
This initiative will save the school JMD$5.3M annually.
GENDER GAP
Santamarina hopes that this investment in STEM programmes will enable “Mt. Alvernia to have a sustainable STEM programme that will promote advancement in technology resulting in a gain of employment in these fields, especially in Jamaica, where STEM is still male-dominated.
These USAID AHA funded programmes aim to advance girls’ education and narrow the existing gender gap with the participation of more women in science and technology careers in Jamaica.”
Mt. Alvernia High School’s Principal, Kayon Whyne, expressed her thanks and said, “The renovation of the classrooms and procurement of the equipment and the solarization of the entire school is expected to significantly increase our capacity to meet the needs of the student body, as we move towards its centenary in 2025 and will also enable increased enrollment.”
Avielle Bowen, student council president, and science student, said, “The renovation of the laboratories and installation of the solar panels are an investment to our education, propelling us (students) to greater heights.”
Similarly, prefect and science student Daechanel Spence also testified that she recalled that the students lacked “the necessary apparatus to learn concepts and effectively complete our labs,” resulting in students getting creative.
They both expressed thanks to FFTP and USAID for the work that has been done.
