THE keys to the new $50M wing at St. Mary’s High School, in Princes Street, were handed over to the Georgetown Department of Education on Friday last.
Speaking at the ceremony, Education Minister Shaik Baksh said the addition is the first of many aimed at advancing schools and the Ministry is working to ensure improved standards, physical and academic, at all.“We want to see all secondary schools developed,” he told the gathering of students, parents, teachers and Education Ministry managers.
Baksh said senior secondary schools have made a name for themselves and so more emphasis is being placed on junior schools.
He acknowledged that St. Mary’s did well in 2009 as compared to 2008 but insisted that there is much more to be done.
Baksh said the target for the school should be grades one to three in five subjects because all St. Mary’s students are at the level of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
He challenged the students to study seriously and move on to further their education at local tertiary institutions and develop not only themselves but their families and country.
“You, the students have to make St. Mary’s stand proud and tall,” Baksh  admonished them, quoting words from the school song.
He reiterated that key to those objectives are serious study, application and the support of teachers and parents, stating that it is quintessential that the last be pillars of support at home.
In that context and in acknowledgement of the constraints parents face for  the provision, Baksh promised more resources in the form of books, to offset the difficulty some experience what is required.
He appealed to parents to ensure that their children attend school regularly and are able to complete their curriculum and to support their Parent Teachers Association (PTAs).
In his view, vibrant PTAs contribute to the development of better partnerships with the Education Ministry and, consequently, growth of the school, in all aspects.
Baksh noted that education is about all-round development and pledged to accelerate the establishment of a computer laboratory at St. Mary’s by 2011, if not sooner.
According to him, the education sector has a plan to equip all schools with computer laboratories by 2013.

ADVANCEMENT
He said another avenue for advancement is the Ministry’s acquisition of the sports ground on Carifesta Avenue, also in the city and works there are expected to be completed by the month end.
Baksh announced, too, that the Ministry will donate sports equipment to the first school that makes use of the facility.
In addition, he said several moves are being made to address the issues affecting schools and, although his visit yesterday was his first to St. Mary’s, he maintained that things are happening for the high school.
Principal Education Officer, Georgetown, Mr. Marcel Hudson agreed and said the new facility has provided an opportunity to broaden the school curriculum.
He exhorted education managers at the school to make maximum use of the new building and ensure that reading, teaching and best practices are the order of things there.
Hudson said progress and development are the focus of his department to advance the cause of education and pointed out that the physical environment of a school impacts on the students’ learning and the ability of teachers to deliver to their capacity.
Assistant Chief Education Officer, Secondary, Ms. Melcita Bovell endorsed that position and it is a major contributor to the efficiency and quality of education delivery.
The headteacher, Mrs. Roxanne Lewi related that St. Mary’s was established in 1852 in the compound of Brickdam Cathedral but, afterwards, other locations were identified, one for the junior students in Princes Street and the other on Camp Street to house the seniors.
Together with the construction of the new wing, the existing Princes Street structure was refurbished and Lewi said efforts are being directed at enhancing delivery of education to students.
She said, apart from the CSEC programme, the school offers the new six-year secondary course and the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP).
The latter is a technical and vocational course that has an alternative pathway for secondary school students, a corrective programme to address students’ weaknesses in literacy and numeracy, especially those leaving primary schools.
The six-year stint, on the other hand, places emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills in the first year and Lewi said two classes are currently functioning.
St. Mary’s has 591 students on roll.