CUL DE SAC--Students, teachers and staff of the academic section of St. Maarten Academy are expected to relocate back to their original campus as of January 2019, Education Minister Wycliffe Smith told Members of Parliament (MPs) during a public plenary session of parliament on education and other matters last week.
Students of the academic section have been having classes in a shift system at the school’s Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) section in Ebenezer since the passing of Hurricane Irma. There is a morning shift for PSVE that runs from 7:30 to 11.00am, and an afternoon shift for the Academic section that runs from 12:30 to 6:30pm at latest.
“The academic section is scheduled to relocate to its campus in January 2019 and the shift of school hours will resume to regular school hours,” Smith told MPs.
In the meantime, two sections of the Academic campus – the Eastern and Western sides – need substantial repairs due to hurricane damage. No repairs have been started to date.
The Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) school board submitted a report on the total damage suffered by both campuses to the ministry shortly after Hurricane Irma. The institution also submitted two quotes from local contractors for the repair of only roofs, windows, doors and electrical work. The cost of this repair work is estimated at a little more than NAf. 1 million.
Additionally, all flooring of the ground floor of the Eastern section of the school requires re-tiling because of severe flooding from the hurricane. Painting of the classrooms and other related work are also necessary.
Smith said FAVE has indicated that it has financing for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE) section of the school.
In response to questions as to whether the education inspectorate has conducted an assessment of the current educational situation within the FAVE schools, Smith said the inspectorate had evaluated the educational situation in the 2017-2018 academic year and the flow of both shifts was working out well after some minor tweaking of logistics.
The FAVE board ensured the construction of a science lab on the premises of PSVE this school year 2018-2019 and it was officially opened on Monday, October 15.
