Major Investment Coming to Inner-City Schools, Including State-of-the-Art Performing Arts School
Jamaica Live News Desk– | Sept 20, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaican Government has announced plans to establish two specialised performing arts schools over the next two years, with one of the institutions slated for West Kingston, as part of a wider push to expand educational opportunities beyond the traditional academic pathway.
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, announced the initiative while outlining new investments in education and school infrastructure in West Kingston.
The proposed schools are expected to combine Jamaica’s standard national curriculum with specialised training in drama, music and dance, giving students an opportunity to pursue academics while developing their creative talents.
Rather than constructing an entirely new school for the West Kingston location, the Ministry intends to repurpose an existing institution, changing and expanding its curriculum and upgrading the facilities to accommodate specialised performing arts education.
Initiative first announced in 2025, West Kingston location newly identified.
While the Government’s plan to establish specialised performing arts schools is not a new initiative, the identification of West Kingston as one of the locations is a new development. The programme was first announced in October 2025, when Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon unveiled plans for three secondary-level performing arts schools — one in each of Jamaica’s three counties: Cornwall, Middlesex and Surrey. At the time, however, no specific communities or schools were identified. The latest announcement now places one of the proposed institutions in West Kingston, with the Minister also revealing that an existing school in the area is expected to be repurposed, its curriculum adapted and a state-of-the-art auditorium added.
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange (left), and Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, interact with Ardenne High School students (from third left) Arhiyanna Kentish, Rihanna Henry and Azzuri West at the 31st staging of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts, held at the Little Theatre on October 15. In the background is Executive Director of the JCDC, Lenford Salmon.
Morris Dixon has further indicated that two performing arts schools are expected to be established over the next two years. It remains unclear whether the third school announced in 2025 is still planned for a later phase or whether the original programme has been revised.
The wider Creative Education Pathway announced in 2025 also included an apprenticeship programme designed to connect aspiring creatives with established industry professionals. Morris Dixon said the initiative was intended to help refine Jamaica’s “raw talent” and provide young people interested in creative careers with greater access to training and professional opportunities. Participants in the apprenticeship programme are expected to receive a monthly stipend of J$70,000 during their training.
In outlining the economic rationale for the initiative, Morris Dixon pointed to the scale of the global creative economy, which she said generates more than US$2 trillion annually and supports nearly 50 million jobs worldwide. The Minister said Jamaica is well positioned to capitalise on its considerable cultural and creative assets, using them to create opportunities and contribute to inclusive economic growth.
Plans include the addition of a state-of-the-art auditorium and performing arts facilities, providing students with spaces for rehearsals, productions and live performances.
Importantly, the programme is expected to extend beyond those who want to perform on stage. Students will also be exposed to the technical side of the entertainment industry, including areas such as set design and sound management, creating opportunities to develop practical skills that can translate into careers within Jamaica’s cultural and creative industries.
The Ministry is working on adapting the curriculum to ensure that it reflects the Jamaican context, while putting the necessary infrastructure in place to support practical learning and performances.
The initiative forms part of the Government’s broader effort to rethink how talent and educational excellence are recognised, providing additional pathways for students whose strengths may lie in music, dance, drama and other creative disciplines.
Major investment in West Kingston schools
The performing arts announcement comes alongside a significant investment in the West Kingston Quality Education Circle (QEC).
The Government has announced approximately J$1.6 billion in infrastructure improvements across three secondary schools — Denham Town High School, Kingston High School and St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS).
At Denham Town High, funding is expected to support the rebuilding and improvement of facilities, including a new administrative building.
Kingston High School, which has reportedly operated without a perimeter wall for more than two decades, is expected to receive a new wall aimed at improving safety and security on the school compound.
Meanwhile, STATHS is slated to receive a state-of-the-art renewable energy laboratory, supporting technical education and training in an area of increasing importance to Jamaica.
The Education Minister said the Ministry intends to establish both performing arts schools within the next two years, although the location of the second institution has not yet been publicly identified.
The West Kingston development represents a potentially significant expansion of specialised secondary education, particularly in a country whose music, dance, theatre and wider cultural industries have achieved international recognition.
For young Jamaicans with creative abilities, the proposed model could provide an opportunity to develop those talents within the formal education system while gaining both academic qualifications and practical industry skills.
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