Merl Grove access ramp almost complete, others underway

The Ministry of Education and Youth says it has almost completed infrastructure upgrades at the Merl Grove High School, as well as several other public schools across the country to make them accessible to disabled children.

Earlier this month, it was reported that a student whose grades in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) guaranteed her a spot at the institution was told that she could not be accommodated at the school because it did not have the necessary facilities. The education ministry subsequently dispelled these reports, stating that a misunderstanding led to the parent to believe that the child would be refused admission and stated that work is to be done to make the school accessible.

While providing an update on the matter, acting Chief Education Officer Dr Kasan Troupe said infrastructure work for wheelchair access at Merl Grove is almost complete, making it the 295th school to be retrofitted under the ministry’s Ramps in Schools Project.

Troupe also provided an update on efforts to retrofit Alphansus Davis High School in Clarendon, following a similar report that a student with a disability was told that she could not be admitted at the institution because it lacked the necessary facilities.

“We have already begun to take the necessary steps to retrofit the school as required. A preliminary assessment was done by our building officer, and the procurement process is being engaged. The aim is to complete the upgrades before the start of the new school year,” she explained, adding that the timetable and assigned classroom for the student will also be informed by the student’s needs in line with an inclusive thrust.

There are currently 700 schools that do not have ramps installed. However, the ministry said it is working to rectify the situation.

In response to the issue, Education Minister Fayval Williams said every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of whether they have a disability, and the ministry is committed to making this a reality.

” Our schools should be inclusive spaces that allow teaching and learning to occur seamlessly, and this initiative will reduce one of the major barriers to learning that have affected students with disabilities for far too long,” said Williams.

The Ramps in Schools project was launched in 2018, with a combination of government funding and donations. Under the project, ramps are installed to enable wheelchair users easier access to classrooms, libraries, restrooms, and other facilities.

Here is a list of the school regions and how many institutions in each region that have benefited from the project so far.

• Region 1 (Kingston and St. Andrew) – 28 ramps schools

• Region 2 (Portland, St Mary and St Thomas) – 14 schools

• Region 3 (St Ann and Trelawny) – 26 schools

• Region 4 (St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover) – 75 schools

• Region 5 ( St Elizabeth and Manchester) – 113 schools

• Region 6 (St Catherine) 22 schools

• Region 7 (Clarendon) – 17 schools