According to Prime Minister Andrew Holness, his Government will build a school to educate youths in various disciplines, including the Arts, for those who are aspiring dancehall and reggae performers, disc jocks, and musicians.
During the groundbreaking for Bernard Lodge St. Catherine’s first Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Academy in Jamaica, Holness said that the institution for the arts would be built to empower young people.
According to Prime Minister Holness, “Yes, there will be a school dedicated to training our upcoming entertainers, deejays, and musicians — our visual and creative artists — in the technical and softer points of the entertainment industry. We believe that that is a space that we own and that we can exploit for our economic and social development.”
The Greater Bernard Lodge Development Plan, which spans about 5,400 acres, contains land that will be used to build Jamaica’s first STEAM academy, which will be situated at Dunbeholden, Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine.
A total of six Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) schools will be built by the Government at an overall cost of US$133 million. Along with one institution for the Arts.
Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams said that the landmarking occasion is a significant step forward in the Government’s efforts to engage and develop students’ interest in STEAM.
“When this Academy is completed, we expect to enrol some 2,400 students, and that is significant. We are optimistic that this will be a game changer in the education system and we’re looking forward to welcoming our first cohort of students… in the very near future,” Mrs. Williams said.
A Jamaica 60 legacy project, the institution will be part of the Greater Bernard Lodge Development to be erected on the 22 acres of land reserved for social services.
