CDB Approves US$43 Million for Bahamas Education Project

By Sherrica Thompson

Staff Writer

January 11, 2023 – The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said it will be putting in US$43.3 million to construct a brand-new comprehensive school and rehabilitate two others in East Grand Bahama to accommodate students whose schools were destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

The Bank’s Board of Directors approved the loan to the Government of The Bahamas at its meeting last month.

Some 2,000 teachers and principals will also be trained in learning recovery and enhancement to support student-centred, differentiated accelerated learning to address the learning loss occasioned by the impact of COVID-19.

The total cost of the project is US$48.08 million, and the Government of the Bahamas will be contributing a fund of US$4.76 million.

The CDB said the facilities will fill the critical need that arose in East Grand Bahama after Hurricane Dorian’s passage destroyed four schools in the area. These are the East End Preschool in Freetown, the East End Primary School in High Rock, the East End Junior High School in McClean’s Town and the All-Aged School in Sweeting’s Cay.

“As a result, for much of the past three years, students have been forced to rise as early as 4:00 a.m. to make the over 60-mile commute by bus and ferry to Freeport to access educational services.  The lengthy commute has made it challenging for students to keep up with their schoolwork, challenges that were further exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on schooling,” the Bank said.

According to the CDB, when completed, the new comprehensive school complex will include a multi-purpose hurricane shelter. The shelter will be designed to function as a cafeteria during school hours but can be seamlessly transitioned for use as a hurricane shelter in the event of a natural hazard event.

CDB’s Division Chief, Social Sector Division, Dr. Martin Baptiste, while on the project, highlighted its potential social benefits.

“Given the intersectionality between the home, community and the school, the investment in new school infrastructure will also play a significant role in the general improvement of respective communities, enhancing skills training programmes, social protection initiatives and promoting social cohesion,” Baptiste said.

The CDB did not provide a date for when construction for the project would begin.