State Minister for Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, officially opened the 2026/2027 academic year on Monday (Sept. 14), urging students to pursue excellence and bloom where they are planted.
“We want the best for you. Everyone wants the best for themselves and their children but even when you do not achieve thet best in the moment, don’t give up. Don’t get sad; don’t feel hopeless,” she said.
She was addressing the ceremony held at the Devon Primary and Infant School in Manchester.
The occasion included the opening of a new $2 million playground at the institution, which was established through support from the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education Fund (CHASE) Fund.
The State Minister said that the fully equipped playground, which is designed to meet the requirements of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), will serve as a zone of fun and learning for children.
Giving an update on the repair of hurricane-damaged schools, she informed that 57 severely damaged priority-one schools have been completed.
Work is advanced on an additional 95 schools, which are scheduled for completion by the end of October, and another 34 institutions are slated to finish by the end of December 2026.
Approximately 60 per cent of the badly damaged institutions are expected to be ready by the end of the first term.
Principal of the school, Nadine Nembhard-Foster in her remarks, welcomed the completion of the playground, noting that it provides a safe space for children to engage in wholesome play.
She expressed thanks to the teachers for their contribution, particularly Infant Department Coordinator, Cassandra Campbell, for championing the project.
“It is one of the required standards from the ECC. We had a big dream to make this one of our reality…we got 70 per cent funding from CHASE Fund and the other 30 per cent, we raised funds,” she informed.
