Plans For New Secondary School Progressing – Ambassador Shoul

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Education

Friday, 07 September 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John’s - Plans for the erection of the new Five Islands Secondary School are progressing smoothly, says Antigua’s Ambassador to China David Shoul.

The new (30 million RMB) facility will be built through a grant from the Chinese Government and, according to the ambassador, the new learning institution will indeed be as beautiful as it will be functional.

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“That is going really well. Dr. Hanley just returned from Beijing where he met with the designers and they are waiting for the final plan to get construction going,” Shoul said.

He revealed that construction could begin as early as late November to early December and when completed it will be considered a significant complement to the local education system.

“That is going to be a very nice school. It is a grant, and as you know today you don't get a school for free that easily with modern labs. That is going to be very good for our education system,” Ambassador Shoul said.

He said Education Minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro is up to speed with the project’s development, having made several personal inquiries about its status.

“We need the room. From what I understand we need two schools like this,” Shoul said.

In March of this year Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Vice Minister in the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China Gao Huncheng signed two technical co-operation agreements and letters of intent for a number of projects.

Included was the agreement for Economic and Technical Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Antigua & Barbuda for a grant for the construction of the Five Islands Secondary School for an amount of 30 million RMB.

Prime Minister had labeled the signing moment as a “sentimental” one in the history of education in Antigua & Barbuda.

“As the Ministry of Education and indeed the government move towards the full implementation of Universal Secondary Education in 2013; the new Five Islands Secondary School signals the vision of a government; heralds opportunity to our children and young people; guarantees the empowerment of our human resources; and trumpets the hopes and aspirations of our people,” the PM said.



He added, “We are grateful to the People’s Republic of China for this phenomenal gesture which will realise the construction of a first class, modern secondary school which will accommodate 750 eager students and teachers ready and willing to learn and teach in comfortable and well equipped classrooms.”

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