$50m for upgrades to primary schools 

As the National Budget continues being a topic of much discussion, senior writer LARA PICKFORD-GORDON takes a look at one of the important allocations.

Government has allocated $96.4 million in the national Budget for the construction and upgrade of primary schools in Trinidad.

The Education sector has traditionally been given the largest share in the national budget and this continued with $8.766 billion allocated in the new fiscal year.

The sum of 7.512 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Education (MoE) for 2024–2025, and an additional $560.4 million was subsequently given. There are 476 primary schools in Trinidad, out of which 118 are Catholic. According to the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) budget document, $13.5 million of the $96 million will be used on designs and start of construction of the Gaines Normal AME, construction of three pre-engineered facilities for the Claxton Bay Junior Anglican, Brighton Anglican and Palmiste Government primary.

In 2026, $50 million will be used for upgrades to primary schools. This will encompass, “repairs to primary schools, including electrical, sewer, plumbing, flooring, ceiling and roofing”.

Some of the funding is for the implementation of the Inclusive School Project at three primary schools. The project aims to improve safety and well-being of students with disabilities. [The project launched in 2020, was to be implemented by the MoE’s Student Support Services Division at 21 schools in seven education districts in Trinidad].

The sum of $3 million is earmarked to “fund the replacement of worn and dilapidated furniture in primary schools as well as pay for work completed in a previous fiscal year”.

There are 134 secondary schools with approximately 85,665 students. A total of $55 million was budgeted for electrical, sewer, roof repairs etc, and the Inclusive School Project at two secondary schools, and payment for work completed in the previous fiscal year.

An allocation of $20 million is for emergency work to secondary schools, and $5 million of this is for the construction of temporary pre-engineered classrooms at the Chaguanas South Secondary and San Fernando Central Secondary.

Lady Hochoy schools to benefit

Catholic special education schools are among the 12 schools in Trinidad to benefit from the $10.5 million for two projects listed. The amount of $9 million will go toward repairs and maintenance of nine of these schools. These schools are: The Lady Hochoy schools at Penal, Gasparillo, Arima and Cocorite; the Cascade School for the Deaf; Princess Elizabeth Special School; the School for Blind Children; Andrey Jeffers School for the Deaf; and Wharton Patrick Special School. The remaining $1.5 million is listed for repairs and maintenance for the development of a School for Special Education at Pointe-a-Pierre.

Digitisation of the Education sector is a priority for the government. According to the PSIP, this “is geared towards modernising the education system, enhancing digital learning outcomes, and exposing students to the use of the technology. To this end, the sum of $124.0 million will be invested”.

The sum of $105 million will support the purchase and delivery of laptops and tablets. A breakdown was given as follows: 18,000 laptops for Form 1 students, and 3,000 laptops for secondary school teachers.

A further $15 million is listed for the Digital Education Programme to facilitate the expansion of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure “by upgrading hardware and software across public schools to ensure reliable access to digital tools, such as eBook Platform and Textbooks”.

Another document, the Social Sector Investment Programme (SSIP) Digital Education Programme states “this will promote digital literacy, reduce the reliance on heavy schoolbags and make learning more interactive and accessible.”

The SSIP states the MoE will launch an ICT training programme for teachers “focusing on digital, literacy and foundational ICT. Furthermore, via its Digital Learning Webinar Series educators will be introduced to the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom, in alignment with the UNESCO AI Competency Framework”.

An AI Math Project “will provide specialised training for mathematics teachers, empowering them to use AI-powered tools to enhance student engagement and improve academic performance. Approximately 600 teachers will be impacted through the training workshops”.

The remaining $4 million allocation, according to the PSIP, will go to enhancing the Information Technology Infrastructure of the Ministry—“upgrading of the MOE’s data centre and network, procurement of laptops and computers, and installation of an offsite disaster recovery solution will continue.”

The PSIP stated $3.5 million was budgeted for the MoE to start two new interventions to ensure the well-being of students is safeguarded and prepare them for maximising their educational opportunities. The sum of $1.5 million is to be used to engage in consultancy services to develop a tool for universal screening and treatment of children between four and six years; $2 million was assigned for the roll-out of the Specialist Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET)/Technology Education (TE) Department for expansion of TVET courses in schools, developing teaching and learning resources, professional development  of teachers and reform of the TE curriculum for Forms 1 to 3.