Merl Grove High School has almost completed the process to fully retrofit its institution to accommodate a student with a disability for this academic year.

The student, who was placed at the school because of her results in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), was previously told she could not attend the high school because it did not have ramps to accommodate the use of a wheelchair. The Ministry of Education and Youth stepped in with promises to have the school ready for back-to-school.

Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education and Youth, Kasan Troupe, while speaking on local radio this morning, shared that the student will start school on Friday, and the necessary arrangements have been made to make the institution wheelchair accessible.

“We have been able to respond to that situation, and that child will be in school on Friday because, as you know, our high schools have staggered resumption. And so, she will be in school on Friday. The school is ready, just minor touches. But the last time I saw that report, we were at about 96 per cent complete, and that was two weeks ago, so I can assure you that Merl Grove will be ready,” said Troupe.

She also spoke to a similar incident that took place at the Alphansus Davis High School in Clarendon, where the education ministry has begun the process to make the school accessible.

While she could not share the percentage completion rate, she said the retrofitting of the space will be costlier than at Merl Grove and is not close to completion.

Troupe also promised that the education ministry is working to have all schools retrofitted for students with disabilities. She shared that 32 students have reached out for assistance to be retrofitted, and an assessment process is in place to undertake the necessary adjustments to make the institutions accessible.