ST.JOHN'S Antigua, February 24th, 2012 -- Discussions are ongoing with representatives of the Chinese Government in Antigua on construction of the proposed Five Islands Secondary School. This as the Ministry of Education forges ahead with plans for the full implementation of Universal Secondary Education (USE).
Briefing education officials earlier this week, Assistant Director of Education in charge of Planning, Doristeen Etinoff said several meetings have been held between education officials and members of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Public Works Department, who are finalizing the first phase of the proposed project, which includes the terms and conditions of the agreement between the governments of the PRC and Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Etinoff, phase two of the arrangement will see the Chinese returning to their government for approval on the terms and conditions agreed to, which will be followed by the commencement of the architectural layout of the school.
Education Minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro is anticipating that construction of the Five Islands Secondary School will be completed by September 2013, the period by which Universal Secondary Education (USE) is expected be fully implemented in Antigua and Barbuda.
Financing for the construction of the new secondary institution will be made available through a grant from the People’s Republic of China totaling 75 million RMB.
The proposed Five Islands Secondary School will have a capacity to house 750 students. 6450 square metres will be divided into classrooms, a gymnasium, IT and Science Laboratories and a music room among others.
Discussions are also ongoing between officials of the Ministry of Education and Profiles Antigua Inc. /UWI Consortium on the construction of another secondary school at Tomlinsons, to be funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
The two new schools when completed are expected to ease the strain being experienced on over populated public secondary institutions.
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