St Joseph High School is set to undergo a major expansion with the construction of a new $421.2 million annexe aimed at easing overcrowding and enhancing the delivery of academic and technical education.
The project officially commenced on Wednesday with a sod-turning ceremony for the two-storey, 22,360-square-foot facility, which is expected to be completed within 10 months.
Once completed, the annexe will accommodate 10 classrooms, physics and biology laboratories, an AutoCAD room, an Allied Arts room, classrooms for clothing and textiles and home management, a counselling room, staff room, sick bay and modern washroom facilities.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Education Sonia Parag said the project is intended to create a better learning environment by increasing classroom capacity while expanding the school’s academic programmes.
“If we are going to give you access, it is also extending existing schools so that we do not place you in a position where you are overcrowded and cannot thrive in that environment,” Parag said.
She noted that expanding existing schools is an important component of the government’s efforts to improve access to quality education while ensuring students have the facilities needed to succeed.
The annexe will be constructed along the school’s northern boundary, a location identified by project planners as the most suitable for maximising available space while preserving the school’s existing layout and operations.
The building has been designed with sustainability, safety and accessibility in mind. It will feature improved natural lighting and ventilation, enhanced drainage infrastructure, modern fire safety systems, elevated floor levels to improve flood resilience, and will be fully compliant with accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
