The new Golden Grove Secondary School (GGSS) building was on Wednesday commissioned by Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry, in the presence of happy students, parents, teachers, villagers and several education officials.

The commissioning ceremony held in the school’s auditorium, took the format of a cultural presentation and reflection on where the school started to where it is today.

Education Officer (Secondary), Loren Park in briefing the audience on the history of the school, shared the story of the founding fathers, mothers and villagers, who fought through the prevalent racial tension that existed in the 1960s and ensured they had a secondary school in the village.

With a population now of 722 students, the school is better equipped not only to accommodate its population, but to ensure quality education delivery so that students can have a better chance at reaching their fullest potential.

Minister Henry told the attendees the government invested a “pretty penny” ($170M) in the school and it is the hope of the government that students will make full use of the resources to secure a solid education.

The Ministry of Education, she said, is currently crafting its strategic plan, which among other things, will focus on improving efficiency of the education system by helping all students to complete secondary school. This is in keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Four, which speaks of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all.

“The construction of every new school brings us closer to the fulfillment of the SDG Four, as more and more young people are provided with opportunities to equip themselves with the relevant skills and academia to foster personal as well as professional growth,” Dr Henry said.

She pointed out that President David Granger would have continuously promoted and supported development of education in this country, through several initiatives. The mere fact that the education sector has the largest budgetary allocation is a reflection of how important the government deems education.

“Our current students are the future leaders and therefore they should be groomed to govern with excellence. They should be given conditions that are conducive to growth and development,” the minister said.

The commissioned school has four laboratories: one each for Biology and Chemistry, one for Information Technology and another for Home Economics.
“And note these facilities were not included to just showcase architectural skills, but rather as a means to foster holistic development of the students’ potential. Needless to say, the facility itself cannot accomplish the goal, but strategic planning and implementation of those plans to utilise the facility to its full advantage, will ensure that these goals are a reality,” Dr Henry said.

She also charged the teachers to adopt a positive attitude and create the best and most conducive learning environment for the students.

Sharing sentiments of appreciation for the investment, headteacher, Dolores Dublin-Benjamin, a past student, said over the years the school has seen improvement in students’ academic performance.

With the new building and facilities, she said, it is expected that students will perform better.

During the commissioning ceremony, the audience was entertained as students showcased their talent through dramatic poetry, singing of folk songs and playing of steel orchestra.