BHS opens the doors of its new wing

Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 06, 2013 (SKNIS): The Basseterre High School on Tuesday (June 04) opened the doors of its new wing that will house six classrooms and a temporary office for the principal and secretary.

During a handing over ceremony held at the school, Minister of Education the Hon. Nigel Carty stated that the initial plan for the building was to provide a temporary facility to accommodate the fifth form students who were preparing for exams.

Minister Carty revealed that the decision to upgrade the building’s status to a permanent one was influenced by the security requirements of the teachers and students.

“If we are going to avoid the challenges in the past and to ensure the security of the teachers and students at the Basseterre High School we have got to make sure that it is properly designed not just for today but for tomorrow as well,” he said.

The Education Minister continued by emphasizing his Ministry’s commitment to the improvement of schools.

“It is a remarkable moment in the life of the Basseterre High School,” he stated. “Today is a moment of reflection because this experience behoves us that we ought to pay attention to all the things that are critical to education including the safety and security of health of all of the people.”

Minister Carty also took the opportunity to thank the members of the Basseterre High School PTA who played an important part in the venture.

“They were on hand to engage in the important discourses which have taken place between then and now to ensure that we were able to distil out of our discussions policies, decisions which would drive the renovation of the school and allow us to come to this point today.”

Principal of the Basseterre High School Carlene Henry-Morton announced that the new building is already being used.

“We have already pressed these rooms into commission,” Mrs. Henry-Morton revealed. “We have done some of our orals in the classrooms. They are coming in just at the right time because by Thursday we begin to sit our internal exams and so this space is much needed.”

On the western campus, final touches are being made to the chemistry and physics lab which were refurbished to ensure students and teachers can be accommodated in a clean and healthy environment. Work is continuing on the biology lab as well.