By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

FULLY accredited courses at the new agriculture and marine science school in Andros began in an airport terminal yesterday.

Faculty and students will use the Landing Restaurant and Lounge at Western Air’s San Andros airport terminal as a lecture hall until construction of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is complete.

At a soft launch for the school, Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray estimated that total costs of the makeshift accommodations for housing and classrooms are around $120,000 and will be used for the institute’s inaugural term.

He said that costs were heavily reduced by vendors, who made sacrifices to support the project and ensure its success.

“The proof of a pudding is in the eating, if I take that as the jump off, I would say that I am a living witness to what is happening here today,” Mr Gray said at a ceremony on the island.

“This is the launch of history, BAMSI has come of age, classes began today. We have 45 enrolled in the programme today.

“We have good faculty, staff, students, accommodations are in place, the cooking facilities are in place, the students are well placed to learn.”

Mr Gray spoke to the media at the soft launch of the institute, which began its associate degree programmes despite construction delays to the school’s campus.

“I’m told from the people who lead the construction on site that all of the buildings should be finished by the end of November, or the first week or so in December, and so if their projection is correct it would seem in January when the new term begins it should be on (BAMSI’s) site,” Mr Gray added.

The MICAL MP said the school will have an official opening with Prime Minister Perry Christie next year.

Forty-five students from nine different islands are registered for BAMSI’s agriculture and marine science associate degree programmes, with the number of students almost evenly split between the two programmes.

BAMSI President Dr Raveenia Roberts-Hanna explained that five students deferred their entry until January due to personal circumstances.

Dr Hanna said half of the students are on full government scholarship with an average tuition of $1,500.

Courses are $100 per credit, and lab fees are $50. Room and board is $500 per term and includes three meals per day.

The memorandum of understanding with the College of the Bahamas had not yet been signed yesterday morning; however, Dr Hanna said the document was expected to be signed by the end of Monday or early this week.

BAMSI has partnered with the University of Florida for the agriculture programme and the University of Miami for the marine science programme, according to Dr Hanna, who told media that courses were fully accredited and class credits are transferable.

She said the current accommodations have not compromised academic standards, adding that international universities have shown interest in collaborating with the institute.

Classes are held between 8am and 5pm, she said.

“Right now we’re running the associate degree programme, which is a two-year programme,” she said, “but come January we will offer our certificate programmes which will range from a weekend course to up to six-month courses.

“We need to destroy this box in thinking that learning has to be within the four corners of a physical structure. We have a greenhouse already up and running we have a farm that is about to actually produce fruit, so that is their classroom space, that doesn’t hinder us at all,” Dr Hanna added.

Female students will occupy 16 mixed occupancy rooms at the Westside Fishing Lodge, and male students are housed in 11 double occupancy rooms at GJ’s Resort. Amenities at GJ’s Resort include a swimming pool, tennis and basketball court.

Both hotels are located in Nicholl’s Town and the Lan’ Crab Restaurant at the Westside Fishing Lodge has been transformed into the students’ dining hall.

Classes for the term will end in early December, according to Dr Hanna, who confirmed that all exams will be completed by December 22.

She explained that a shuttle bus will transport students between the dining hall, work sites, and the make-shift lecture hall.

At the soft launch yesterday, faculty and students were optimistic for the new term and the projected benefits that the institute would bring for the island and wider country.

Sheri Fountain, an agriculture science major and scholarship recipient, said: “At the end of my term here, I would hope to be a part of the Ministry of Agriculture and that I would become a grading manager within the packing house system.

“I think a grading system is needed within agriculture, when you look in farming in the US for meat there is a grading system,” she added. “It gives a standard, we’re farming all over in 14 inhabited islands and when you are bringing in produce from all over, there should be a grading system to get the best.”

Another scholarship recipient, Dameko Sawyer, is an 18-year-old agriculture major from Grand Bahama.

Mr Sawyer said: “I chose this programme because when I was young I used to farm with my grandfather and it has become a passion for me, so anything to further it would be great. This is a major bounce for me in my life.”