Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, says available data indicate that the Region Three Educational Division requires additional schools, as changing population patterns continue to drive demand for student placements, particularly along the north coast.

She highlighted the rapid population growth in St Ann and Trelawny, noting that the corresponding rise in student numbers could require additional schools to accommodate future demand.

“There are many communities [where] we are seeing less people… less children; but there are also many communities where we are seeing an explosion in the population,” the minister said.