Dominica’s newly completed Dominique Marchand Pre-School in Soufriere has been officially handed over to the Ministry of Education following its reconstruction
Dominica: The Ministry of Education, HR Planning, Vocational Training & National Excellence has announced that it has received the newly completed Dominique Marchand Pre-School from Jungle Bay Dominica, marking a significant milestone for early childhood education in the community of Soufriere.
The Dominique Marchand Pre-School, located in Brooklyn, Soufriere, was officially handed over to the Ministry of Education on Tuesday August 11, 2026, with the Ministry describing it as a special occasion and a significant investment to early childhood development in the country.
For years, children in the community were accommodated in temporary facilities following the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Today, we celebrate the opening of a permanent space designed to provide our children with a more suitable environment in which to learn, play, grow, and thrive, shared the Ministry of Education.
The reconstruction of the preschool was undertaken by Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, who completed the project through the support of different individuals, including the staff of Jungle Bay, guests and the Redekop Family Endowment.
The Ministry has extended its appreciation to the proprietor of Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, Sam Raphael and every individual who contributed to the successful completion of the project, with special thanks being extended to the Redekop Foundation.
Their generous support has helped make this new space for our youngest learners a reality. This facility represents what can be achieved when the public and private sectors, along with generous partners, come together in support of our children and communities, the Ministry expressed.
The Education Ministry has shared picture highlights of the handover ceremony and the new school on Facebook where it expressed the importance of the preschool for the community of Soufriere as it will provide children with a safe place to learn.
As we share these moments from yesterday's handover ceremony, we celebrate not just a new building, but a new beginning for the children of Soufriere. Every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and inspiring place to begin their educational journey, wrote the Ministry.