The Knox College Sixth Form Block
The quality of education a child receives significantly shapes their destiny as well as society’s capacity for peace, creativity, and economic development. School performance should be a significant focus for educators and all well-thinking individuals. The education system must produce citizens who can fit critical roles in society. Individuals who emerge from the school system – at whatever level – must be equipped with appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes that empower them to participate equitably, effectively, and efficiently in the wider society.
As Jamaica strives to take its place within a fiercely competitive post-Covid global marketplace, those best equipped to provide leadership in many significant areas are persons whose reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills are best developed. Knoxites and friends of Knox should feel proud that, after 75 years, Knox College, the home of excellence, continues to play a significant role in this regard; Knox College is a pioneer and standard bearer in holistic student development.
While the school has maintained an excellent track record of academic excellence over the years, there is a need for additional resources – in particular, a Sixth Form Block. After a decades-long suspension, Knox College restarted its Sixth Form Programme in September 2008. The restart was necessary to satisfy the high demand for Sixth Form spaces in the geographic location served by the school. The programme has done very well since then, however, the demand for the programme now far outweighs the available classroom and lab facilities at the school. A Sixth Form Block is urgently needed to solve this problem.
The school submitted a proposal for the construction of a Sixth Form Block to the Ministry of Education Youth (MOEY) on March 10, 2015. From that submission came a pledge to partner with the school to construct the Block. Unfortunately, intervening priorities have delayed the MOEY fulfilling its commitment to part-fund the construction. The proposal, when first made, was indexed to a recommendation of the National Education Inspectorate (NEI). The NEI inspected the school in 2014 and rated the school as GOOD but noted that a sixth-form building was needed. Interestingly, the NEI inspected the school again in February 2020 and improved their assessment of the school with a rating of EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH. In line with their previous recommendation, the NEI again urged that the Sixth Form Block be constructed.
A Sixth Form Block will bring many benefits to the school, including improved learning and support facilities, increased sixth form spaces, the opportunity to offer additional programmes, employment opportunities, and greater prestige, to name a few. Despite the delay in the MOEY fulfilling its commitment, the school is determined to press along nonetheless. It has made significant strides because of the generous donations received from past students and past students’ associations who have contributed approximately JMD $25 million to the project, about 10% of the amount estimated for construction. So far, the project site has been prepared, and the plans are being finetuned for approval and construction.
The Toronto chapter of the Knox Past Students’ Association extends heartfelt and sincere thanks to all our donors as we continue our efforts along with other benefactors to raise funds for this worthy cause that will positively impact the lives of many Jamaican youth for many years to come.