The Editor, Sir:

I refer to an article titled 'GSAT Space Crunch: Education Ministry Not Sure What's Available' published in The Gleaner of Monday, March 17, and which did not accurately convey my discussion with your reporter.

I said that the ministry does not anticipate the difficulties that were experienced in recent years because the 50,462 students registered for GSAT this year is 2,300 less than in 2007.

The Ministry of Education does maintain proper records of school spaces throughout the education system. However, because GSAT candidates are allowed choices of secondary schools, the final geographic space requirements cannot be known until the examination results are available.

Space shortage

Beyond this, we wish to remind you that in recent years the ministry has expanded and/or constructed several schools in response to the space shortage that is related to the demographic changes in the St Catherine/Clarendon region. Indeed, three new schools will be constructed in this region, and are presently in various stages of procurement. Furthermore, under the education transformation programme, the ministry's schools infrastructure and facilities teams are planning the longer term solutions that will create the desired access and equity in the nation's education system.

I am, etc.,

CHARLENE ASHLEY, PhD

Director of Communications