BRIMMERVALE RENAMED IN HONOUR OF FORMER MP
(Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams (back row, centre), shares a photo opportunity with students at the Wycliffe Martin High School, formerly Brimmer Vale High, at Bailey’s Vale, near Port Maria, on Thursday, November 30. The official renaming ceremony took place at the school’s premises. Also taking part in the ceremony were Principal Evorine Henry Tracey and Member of Parliament for St. Mary Western, Robert Montague, Also among the guests were Paul Martin and Jean Martin Raynor, grandchildren of former St. Mary Central Member of Parliament Wycliffe Martin after whom the school has been named).
PREPARE FOR THE CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams has urged the school community of Wycliffe Martin High, in St Mary, to prepare its students not just for the present but also for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Mrs Williams was delivering the main address at the renaming of Brimmervale High as Wycliffe Martin High, in honour of a former Member of Parliament for Central St Mary.
The school was established, at Bailey’s Vale, outside of Port Maria, in 1969 as Brimmervale Secondary and later renamed Brimamervale High.
Speaking at the renaming ceremony on Thursday, November 30, Mrs Williams thanked MP for West St Mary, Robert Montague for his efforts in lobbying for a name change in honour of Wycliffe Martin.
(Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, tries out the driving simulator at the Wycliffe Martin High School, near Port Maria, St. Mary during a tour of the institution, formerly the Brimmer Vale High School, following the official renaming ceremony on November 30)
The Minister spoke about the mission in the Ministry of Education to Transform the education system.
“In the face of a rapidly changing world, our education system must adapt and evolve. The challenges of the 21st century require us to equip our students not just with knowledge but with critical thinking skills, creativity, and adaptability. This is why we are transforming the Jamaican education sector,” she said.
Minister Williams highlighted the Transforming Education for National Development (TREND) programme. TREND, comprises seven pillars of transformation.
“The pillars are governance, legislation, leadership and administration; early-childhood education; curriculum teaching and teacher training; the tertiary sector; technical and vocational education and training (TVET); infrastructure and technology, and financing,” she said. These represent the collective commitment to ensuring that every single child in Jamaica, whether you’re part of a public school or a private school, you’re going to have access to an education system that is world-class.”
TVET LABS NEED ATTENTION
Principal Evorine Henry Tracey gave credit to Wycliffe Martin for his work and vision in helping to establish the school. She noted that school has undergone several name changes. She said the actual renaming took place in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic but the Board of management thought it necessary to make it official on Thursday.
(The unveiling of the new sign)
“Today we seize the opportunity not just to rename the school but to take this as an opportunity to rebrand our institution as we continue positively changing lives through culture change, academic excellence, community involvement and dynamic leadership,” Mrs Henry Tracey said.
Mrs Henry Tracey said that as was the case for many schools, Wycliffe Martin High faced a myriad of challenges. She said these included students reading way below grade level; teacher shortage, a school plant that needs upgrading in electricity and plumbing. Also, she said there was a need for refurbishing of the TVET laboratories and educational resources to match the needs of a majority of the students.
ACHIEVEMENTS DESPITE THE ODDS
She said that despite the odds, the school was significantly contributing to the development of the students “evidenced in a positive school culture, good leadership and governance, and improvement in academic achievements.”
“Each year we attain 90-100% passes in our TVET subjects to include Industrial Arts, Business Education, Agriculture and Home Economics,” she said.
Among the guests was MP for West St Mary Robert Montague and Custos of the Parish Errol Johnson.
The guest speaker was introduced by Student Council President Carissa Newsome and the vote of thanks was done by A Graham Golding. Jean Martin Raynor granddaughter of Wycliffe Martin brought greetings.
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