$3.7bn Contract Signed for Jamaica’s First STEAM Academy at Bernard Lodge

Kingston, Jamaica, 30 June 2026

A $3.7-billion contract has been signed for Jamaica’s first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEAM) Academy, which will be built within the Greater Bernard Lodge development in Dunbeholden, St Catherine.

The agreement was signed on 25 June at the Education Ministry’s offices at National Heroes Circle in Kingston. The school is designed to hold about 2,400 students from grades seven to 13.

What will be built

Plans include specialised laboratories, digital classrooms, maker spaces for robotics and creative work, arts facilities, a library, administrative areas, technology infrastructure and recreational grounds, along with landscaping and utilities.

The National Education Trust is the implementing agency and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation is the contractor. Work will be carried out in stages, beginning with design.

The academy is intended as a pilot for a wider Government plan to build specialised STEAM schools in other parts of the island.

Officials on the project

Education Permanent Secretary Dr Kasan Troupe said the project was about the development of the country’s children, describing learning spaces where students can create, innovate and think critically.

Jay Wang, managing director of the contractor, described the signing as a turning point that reflected Jamaica’s commitment to education and the long-standing cooperation between Jamaica and China.

What it means for Bernard Lodge homeowners

Greater Bernard Lodge is one of the largest planned growth areas in St Catherine, and the arrival of a major secondary school is significant for families weighing a move there. Access to good schools is often one of the deciding factors for buyers with children, and a new institution nearby can reduce long daily commutes into Spanish Town, Portmore or Kingston.

Schools also tend to bring jobs, transport links and services, which can support demand for housing and rental accommodation in surrounding communities over time.

Buyers should keep in mind, however, that the project is at the design stage, so it will be some time before the academy opens its doors. Anyone purchasing in the area on the strength of the school should check timelines and admission arrangements rather than assume places will be available immediately.