by Eulana Weekes
St. Kitts and Nevis (WINN): The Ministry of Education in the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is undertaking a project to improve the safety and security system at the Irishtown Primary School.
Hon. Dr. Geoffrey Hanley said three projects are ongoing at the school, with the aim of resuming face-to-face instruction at the beginning of the final academic term, with a proper security system in place.
“The work at the Irishtown Primary School has started, and there are three major projects that we are working on at that institution, and we are hoping that by the end of the Easter break, the entire project will be completed. The security-enclosed areas of the eastern and western breezeway are currently being installed. I visited there yesterday. Work remains in progress on the fence that we are replacing, and the refurbishing of the new space for the Principal’s Office is ongoing. Our tentative target date is April 24,” said Hanley at the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference on Thursday, March 30, 2023.
The Irishtown Primary School has not been occupied for face-to-face instruction since the murder of the school’s security guard, 51-year-old Dahlia Hanley, on February 14, 2023.
The Ministry of Education took the initiative to provide trauma support to staff, children and parents and also met to discuss the school’s security issues.
Parliamentary Representative for Constituency 2, Hon. Marsha Henderson, also spearheaded a clean-up and beautification effort at the Irishtown Primary School with the support of Cabinet and Education officials, as well as members of the McKnight community; to ensure that the staff and students are comfortable upon their return to the facility.
The students and teachers of the Irishtown Primary School on March 01, 2023, returned to face-to-face instruction, however, at temporary locations. Kindergarten to Grade 2 are located at the Olivet Gospel Hall, Grades 3 to 5 are at the former Spanish Institute at Greenlands, and the Grade 6 class occupies a space at the Church of God of Prophecy.
