New day for Winston Jones High welding students
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A new world of opportunities has opened up for welding technology students of Winston Jones High School in Pratville, Manchester.
A news release from bauxite/alumina company Jamalco says welding students at Winston Jones High are now able to do practical work and complete their assessments in a fully equipped, state-of-the-art welding laboratory which was recently reopened at the school following major refurbishing.
Previously students had to travel to St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in Santa Cruz, well in excess of 20 miles away, to complete their assessments.
The refurbishing project at the school’s welding laboratory was funded with a grant of US$30,000 from Jamalco and the Noble Foundation. The Noble Foundation is linked to the Noble Group which has majority shareholding in Jamalco.
The welding laboratory now features new work stations, brand new welding equipment and tools, new windows, an upgraded electrical network and personal protective equipment for the students.
Addressing the ceremony, education officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information Owen Wilson commended Jamalco for its partnership and committed relationship with the school.
Wilson said that while technical and vocational education was considered in some circles to be a ‘second-cousin’, he learnt otherwise as a child.
“The field of technical and vocational education is education. It is not secondary to any. Many don’t realise that welding is hard work, but it is also an area that is exciting,” he said.
The education officer charged the students to take good care of the equipment while they develop their skills. “Your skill is important, but so is your attitude. The same skills that you are expected to utilise in the world of work should be mimicked in the classroom so that when you turn up for work it is not a surprise, because you would have already been equipped with the skills needed to perform at a high standard,” he said.
General Counsel (Jamalco) Sonia Mitchell, who brought remarks on behalf of Jamalco’s Managing Director Austin Mooney, said the company recognised the value of education.
“We are confident that the newly refurbished laboratory will provide an improved learning environment for the students,” she said. Mitchell challenged the students to be excellent welders and encouraged them to exercise extreme caution when using the equipment to prevent injuries.
Principal Dr Marrie Wilson-McLaughlin thanked Jamalco for its continued partnership with Winston Jones High. She said the school was unable to independently improve its facilities over the short term and, as such, a decision was made to engage Jamalco for continued partnership to renovate the lab.
“This partnership was necessary so that the students would be able to experience training and assessment in their own environment, and in accordance with the standards approved by the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training,” she said.