Kingston, Jamaica — 25 February 2026
The Government is moving to finalise a national Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Education Policy while advancing construction plans for new STEAM academies, including a flagship institution at Bernard Lodge in St. Catherine. With approximately $857 million allocated under Phase II of the Education System Transformation Programme in the 2026/27 Estimates of Expenditure, the initiative signals not only an education reform drive but a longer-term shift in how public infrastructure shapes communities and land use.
While the policy focus is education, the physical expansion of new school facilities — including six STEAM academies and one visual and performing arts secondary institution by 2028/29 — introduces measurable implications for development patterns, housing demand, and urban growth corridors.
Bernard Lodge and the Expansion of Educational Infrastructure
The planned construction of a STEAM school at Bernard Lodge place…
