501 543 3029/ 501 678 9806 | Mail: Info@gttech.edu.bz

Georgetown Technical High School Georgetown Technical High School

History

Early in the year 2007 the Ministry of Education confirmed that a high school was to be established in Southern Stann Creek District and indicated the necessary positions that were needed in order to start operating. These positions were not filled until late August of the same year, which allowed for little time to put in place the necessary accommodations, governing polices and bodies to commence classes on the last Monday in the month of August.  This however, was not a deterrent. The Ministry of Education pledged its full support and assigned the monumental task to Mr. Ervin Casimiro as its first principal, and his staff to make it all work. Immediately he, Mr. Casimiro, set about to initiate all necessary logistics. On the eleventh of September of 2007, the doors to the school were opened with an enrolment of one hundred and ten students.

Classes started in two borrowed classrooms from the Primary School in the village, Richard Quinn Roman Catholic Primary. The Culture House Building in the village was occupied as a third classroom to accommodate the rest of students. The village’s Health Post became the Administration Building. With the Primary School five minutes from the other two buildings, it became a challenge especially for teachers to move from class to class. The support of the village and the Primary School was necessary in successfully meeting this challenge. For the fall semester we operated in this fashion. The old Primary School building, however, was to be a temporary site for the spring semester. It required a make-over complete with restrooms. The cleaning and renovations were complete in time for the Easter Holidays of 2008, and the three first- year classes were transferred to the temporary campus. The Administration building remained at the Health Post due to minimum accommodations at the campus where the classrooms and staffroom completely occupied the limited space. At the end of the semester the campus was a temporary home, with the expectation that the ministry would complete construction on the permanent campus.

This did not materialize and Georgetown Technical High School found itself with the challenge to accommodate two grades, first and second forms. With the enrollment at one hundred and seventy-four, more classrooms and staffrooms were needed not to mention pressing facilities. In collaboration with the ministry, negotiations were done and resulted in the use of the Roman Catholic Church and the Culture House to accommodate the first formers. The church building space was shared by two first year classes while the third class occupied the Culture House. The second formers remained in the renovated old primary school building. Georgetown Technical High School began to operate from two campuses called the West Campus and East Campus. Furniture was not provided for the first formers until three months in the semester during which time they resorted to using the pews in the church which brought its own difficulties and dilemmas.

From the inception of classes in September of 2007 there had been challenges at Georgetown Technical High School. Students, staff and administration needed adequate rooms and furniture which was first borrowed and later donated by stakeholders in education. Policies to be written, courses to be developed, schedules to accommodate two campuses, transportation  to provide for students from approximately nine different communities, resources for curriculum and research, skilled craftsmen, Parent/Teachers Association, Regional and National Secondary School Sporting Association, and fund raising  were confronting issues that were part of the development of the school. These needs were met by the staff and faculty using their skills and personal resources. Like other institutions, Georgetown Technical High School had its rise and fall.

  • On September 9, 2008, The Chief Education officer, Mr. Chris Aird and the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Education, Mr. David Leacock, made a familiarization visit to our school. The following was the comment: “Very impressed with the desire to learn shown by the mere fact that children from great distances attend school even though conditions are not the best, to say the least.”
  • The Board of Governors was installed on October 8, 2008 with responsibility for the overall decisions and policies governing the institution.
  • On September 7, 2009, the school moved to its new location on the Southern Highway next to the Georgetown Village Junction with an enrollment of 312 students.
  • On May 16, 2010 the new Georgetown Technical High School building became officially inaugurated by the Minister of Education Hon. Patrick Faber and Area Representative Hon. Melvin Hulse. Also on that day ground breaking of phase two of the construction of buildings and facilities for Georgetown Technical High School was conducted
  • On October 15, 2010 the school launched its Pyramid of Intervention Program to reduce dropout and increase promotion rate
  • On Tuesday December 21, 2010 we had the official inauguration of the first block of eight classrooms by His Excellency Marco Mazzocchi Alemanni, Head of Delegation for the European Union in Jamaica also present was the Minister of Education, Hon. Patrick Faber.
  • On Wednesday May 18, 2011 we had the inauguration of the second eight classroom block and Computer Labs. The main address was delivered by Chief Education officer, Mr. Christopher Aird
  • In April 2011 we had the commencement of the Banana Belt Secondary Program funded by EU through the Banana Support Program
  • On Friday June 10, 2011 we had our first commencement exercise with 74 students graduating. The Guest Speaker was Hon. Patrick Faber
  • On Sunday September 9, 2012 Georgetown Technical was host to the Education Expo that showcased the works and capabilities of Teachers that enrolled in the Teacher Education Program sponsored by EU. Guest Speaker was Hon. Patrick Faber
  • On October 28, 2012 Georgetown Technical was host the graduation of teachers that enrolled in the Secondary Education Program funded by EU through the Banana Support Program. Guest Speaker was Hon. Patrick Faber. Sixteen of our teachers graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education
  • In January of 2013 NAO, MOE and Georgetown Technical High School began the consultation process in the procurement of equipment for the Technical and Vocational Programs.
  • On August 26, 2013 we implemented a revised curriculum to ensure that every student has some form of technical orientation when they graduate from Georgetown Technical High School. This is keeping in line with the Education Sector Strategy 2011 – 2016. We will guarantee that the programs obtainable are relevant to the time and age we are in and that the quality will be at the highest possible level. This has also been supported with a career counseling program that will increase the chance of success at secondary school and beyond.

Categories