Jamaica’s leading specialist institution for supporting learners with disabilities has unveiled a newly enhanced learning space, set to transform educational access for hundreds of students with diverse special educational needs across the island.
The upgraded facility is located at the Child Assessment and Research in Education (CARE) Centre, a widely recognized center of excellence based at The Mico University College. Long celebrated for its groundbreaking work in child assessment, targeted intervention, and support for learners with developmental challenges, the centre has received a major upgrade to its core teaching infrastructure through a collaborative cross-sector project.
According to official announcements from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the project was delivered through combined funding and technical support from the CDB and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), with coordination and partnership from Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information. The new classroom is outfitted with cutting-edge interactive learning resources and custom-designed specialized teaching tools, crafted to boost student participation, tailor instruction to individual learning profiles, and drive stronger long-term educational outcomes for neurodivergent and disabled learners.
Speaking at the official ribbon-cutting opening ceremony, CDB Advisor Steve Lawrence emphasized that the project turns the principle of inclusive education from a policy goal into tangible, on-the-ground reality. “This investment reflects an inclusive education system, where ‘education for all’ is not a slogan – but a demonstrated reality for the students and teachers who will together thrive in a space that will translate ambition to achievement,” Lawrence shared.
Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, also marked the milestone, highlighting the specific benefits the new facility will deliver to children on the autism spectrum. “Today, because of the work of CDB and JSIF we have this beautiful facility here. Children with autism are going to be able to get specialised care in a much nicer space,” Minister Dixon noted.
Beyond improving daily learning experiences for students, the upgrade is projected to strengthen the CARE Centre’s full range of core services, from specialized developmental assessments to targeted intervention programs and ongoing educational support for learners and their families across the country. The initiative forms part of a broader national push across Jamaica to expand access to inclusive, accessible, and high-quality learning environments for all children, regardless of their learning needs.
For the CDB, the project aligns with the bank’s long-standing institutional commitment to human-centered development across the Caribbean region. Officials confirmed the bank will continue prioritizing education projects across the region that advance equity, expand inclusion, and lift overall learning outcomes. The overarching mission of these investments, the bank noted, is to guarantee every child across the Caribbean has equal access to the resources and opportunities they need to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to both national and regional development.