IN JAMAICA: Careers & Education... St George’s Primary in downtown Kingston is where girls do well....over 100 years preparing young girls to become ladies so that they can make a positive contribution to nation building.

These girls enjoy their lunch break by
playing Jacks.

The school currently has over 700 students enrolled. Unfortunately, the historic Anglican building out of which the school operates is unable to accommodate any more than this. In fact, instead of walls, chalkboards are used to partition the classrooms in the church hall. "Right now one of the challenges we have is space. We really want a building, we really want a school," said Ridley.

AS the only all girls' primary and infant school in Jamaica, St George's Girls' Primary and Infant School in downtown Kingston has spent over 100 years preparing young girls to become ladies so that they can make a positive contribution to nation building.

The school, which operates from a church hall, has more than its historical legacy to boast about. It is currently one of the schools most sought after by parents because of its academic achievements.

"The standard is very high. Academically the girls do very well. We usually perform above the national average in all areas for external examinations," said principal Collett Ridley.

Janet Davids has the full
 participation of the students
 in her grade six class.

"When it's registration time it is really overwhelming. It is the preffered school for parents to send their daughters," she said. "We have so many girls who want to come, so I don't think we'll ever go co-ed."

There have been efforts to spruce up the old building, but this does not solve the general space issue the school struggles with. "At the end of each academic year a project is done so we have renovation, we have the painting, fixing of windows and doors and so forth to maintain the building, so we have tried," Ridley said. more