Hello ecebloggers,

Here’s another post about Jamaica

Jamaicans are very proud with their high schools. In the 60’s Jamaica didn’t have as many high schools as it has today. Students from different parishes (parish is like a province, Jamaica has 14 parishes) were given a choice to go to two or three high schools. As our taxi driver told us the story, he himself had to take an hour and a half ride by bus to get to the school. He’s from a Hanover parish and there are two of the oldest and most respected high schools on the island: Rusea’s (in the picture below) and Manning’s.

The school was build in 1777 after Martin Rusea, a French refugee, left gracefully all of his land (in his will dated July 23rd, 1974) for a free school to be built. The traditional colors of the Rusea’s high school are yellow, blue and green. Originally this school could admit roughly 100 students per year. Over the time the need for higher education in Jamaica forced the school to expand and now it has two campuses and admits more students. I was surprised when I heard that this high school was founded in 1777 (see picture below).

Students who graduate from this school are very respected on the island because it’s not easy to get in. Usually they continue their education.

Rusea’s High School gave one very famous and world wide known athlete: Marlene Ottey (in the picture below).

In the list of all time athletes Merlene Ottey is ranked fourth in 100 meter track and third in 200 meter track.

She holds the record for being the oldest track medalist ever and for winning the most women’s World Championship medals (14). Because of her achievements she is called “Queen of the Track”.

That’s all from Jamaica, mon.

Have a good one,

Nemanja Memarovic

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