Principal Shernet Clarke Tomlinson is acutely aware of the prevalent negative stereotypes associated with the West Kingston inner city, the location of the Edward Seaga Primary School.
Nevertheless, she emphasized to The Gleaner that these unfavorable perceptions do not infiltrate the school’s environment under her leadership of the past two years.
One of the strategies she employs to combat this is by promoting a culture of cleanliness within the institution.
“We take great pride in maintaining our grounds… We ensure that our students utilize bins. We make sure to instill in them the importance of a clean, friendly, and conducive environment, not only for learning but also for recreational activities,” she explained.
Her dedication was acknowledged when the school was named the Best Kept School in the Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP II) Best Kept School competition last Friday. Organized by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), the competition aimed to recognize and reward schools in St James, Westmoreland, Kingston and St Andrew, and Clarendon for their environmental best practices.
Furthermore, the competition included the evaluation of 10 spaces in ICDP II beneficiary communities.
In addition to winning the overall award, Edward Seaga Primary School excelled in the Safety Management category, securing the first position, and ranked third for both the Best Recycling Project and Overall Environmental Stewardship.
Donovan Moulton, the groundsman, also clinched the second spot in the Best Groundsman category.
Clarke Tomlinson expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the staff, parents, and students in maintaining a clean environment. She remains optimistic that the values instilled at the school will extend to the students’ homes as well.
“It’s a gradual process, sometimes challenging, but we persist. The fact that we have achieved this is truly remarkable,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Denis Reid from St Andrew Primary School, who received the Best Groundsman award, shared his pride in his role, recognizing the significance of a clean environment in enhancing students’ well-being.
“I receive compliments from the children, they come and say, ‘Rasta, the place looks great!’” he recounted. “I don’t believe in doing things halfway. I prefer to go the whole nine yards.”
Reid, a native of Trench Town, expressed gratitude for the validation the award provided, especially during a period of self-doubt.
Education Minister Fayval Williams commended the initiative, emphasizing its role in encouraging students to take personal responsibility for the cleanliness and appearance of their schools.
“Our schools serve as the socializing hub for all our children. They come from diverse backgrounds, communities, and values, and we bring them together in this environment to impart the national values of Jamaica, shaping them into the citizens we aspire them to be,” she stated.
Seventeen schools partook in the competition, which aimed to incentivize participants and beneficiaries of the ICDP II project to uphold high performance standards, ensuring the sustainability of interventions implemented by JSIF in their communities.
The Treadlight community in Clarendon received the award for Best Kept Community Greenspace, while Salt Spring in St James was recognized for the Best Kept Community Entrance Sign.
Among other recipients, Anchovy Primary School in St James secured the first position for Best Kept Grounds, Best Recycling Project, and Overall Environmental Stewardship. Treadlight Primary School in Clarendon was honored for the Best Kept School Greenhouse and Best Traditional School Garden, while St Andrew Primary School received the award for Best Kept School Greenspace.