Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 02, 2019 (SKNIS): The 3D model of the new Basseterre High School (BHS) was unveiled today, May 02, at the site of the new ultramodern school at Pond’s Extension in East Basseterre, marking another promise kept by the Government of National Unity to ensure that the staff and students of the school are in a healthy environment that is conducive to learning.
“Today we are present in a historic timeline as our country takes the bold step to embark on a new era in education transformation,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Shawn Richards, speaking at the unveiling ceremony
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The deputy prime minister reported that education is on the move in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“It means that every student here becomes part of history as you will be the beneficiaries of what is to be the most state-of-the-art, technologically advanced secondary school within the Eastern Caribbean,” he said. “This statement is not a boast, but it is a fact.”
Minister Richards stated that the project is estimated to cost the taxpayers of St. Kitts and Nevis EC$80 million.
“This figure represents an investment in human capital, which is key to the development of small nations such as St. Kitts and Nevis,” he stated. … “Human capital is intrinsically linked to education, and investment by the Team Unity’s Government in education will therefore translate to an investment into human capital.”
The ultramodern school “represents a quantum leap in educational services, technology and teacher accommodations,” said the Minister of Education.
The state-of-the-art school will feature floor space of nearly 200,000 square feet and classrooms to accommodate 1000 students. “…This size is quite bold,” noted the education minister.
Deputy Prime Minister Richards said that special attention has been given to the teaching staff at the school, adding that within the design there is a new teachers’ lounge and counselling along with health service facilities.
“To the best of my knowledge, this represents a first in the era of secondary school infrastructure within the region,” he said. “These inclusions are quite progressive for the new plant.”
The new school will house a 1,200 minimum seating capacity auditorium and stage built for purpose, 32 classrooms, each with a maximum capacity of 30 students, a music center comprising of two dedicated music rooms, four science labs, six computer labs, a dedicated lecture room and five dedicated vocational workshops.
“What’s of note in this delivery of the plant is the fact that there are more computer labs and vocational workshops than there are science labs,” said the Deputy Prime Minister. “This is part of the effort of the ministry to make technical and vocational opportunities equally available to those who want to pursue those careers.”
Deputy Prime Minister Richards noted that the construction of the new school has given rise to an opportunity for further development of the country’s human capital.
The school’s athletic and sports development has been addressed in the new BHS as a playing field and running track sized to meet international standards is within the new design, said the deputy prime minister.
“My ministry ensured we had various other hard court sports such as basketball and netball facilitated,” he stated.
The new state-of-the-art, technology education plant, will be located on 13.93 acres of land and is the only one of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean, said the Minister of Education.
