Cabinet has approved the award of four contracts valued at more than $538 million to carry out upgrading and expansion works on four schools in St. Thomas, Westmoreland and St. James.

Minister of Education Andrew Holness, who made this disclosure at a recent post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said the projects are expected to address the shortage of school spaces in the three parishes.

The projects, which are being funded under the Ministry of Education's Education Transformation Project, includes the upgrading of the Bluefield Primary School in Westmoreland to a high school, at a cost of some $304.5 million.

"This will create 4,200 square metres of space, which will basically include a two-storey multi-block building and the necessary facilities to accommodate a high school," the Education Minister informed.

In the meantime, $198.5 million was awarded to S.W. Woodwork and Construction Limited for the construction of a two-storey building to replace the Springfield Primary School in St. James.