Students playing cricket at the Springvale Primary School.

These two Springvale Primary School students dig up a section of the school.

In years to come, the farming community of Springvale in St Catherine might just be mere land space as residents have been rapidly migrating from the area.

A journey to the remote community recently, revealed that it is facing major neglect.

Residents say due to the lack of piped water sometimes, they have to rely heavily on a spring in the area and they are hampered by the bad roads.

The Springvale Primary School, which represents the beam of hope in the community, has also been severely affected by the challenges.

Principal Worick Brown welcomed our news team and lamented that due to the challenges that the residents face, the student population is on the decline as parents are sending their children to schools outside the community.

"Presently, we have about 35 students and right now parents don't really want to send their children here. Firstly, as you can see, the roads are in a deplorable condition," the principal said. "We don't have much and from the little that we have, culprits have been wreaking havoc on the school. In February, thieves stole our water pump, a deep refrigerator and also money. We get help from residents and parents, but we need further assistance."

One of about three teachers at the school, Monica Henry, said that last year, the students mastered the Grade Four Literacy Test.

"Our students have been doing well, and most of them normally pass for schools like Bog Walk, Ewarton and Dinthill high schools. We would like more students to come to the school. We try to do the best with what we have, but we need financial assistance," Henry said.

Brown said the institution is without computers and that is also posing a challenge.

"In trying to help the boys socialise, sometimes I have to give the boys my phone to play games. I have been sacrificing my time, these children don't have computers at their homes," the dedicated principal said.

Community activist Fitzroy Edwards, who is also a board member of Springvale Primary, told THE STAR that the lives of residents could be better if they should get better roads.

"We are trying to keep the school open, because this is a long-standing school, and we wouldn't want it to be closed. I know that if we get better roads, more people will come on board," Edwards said.

Our news team also got a chance to chat with Warrington Edwards, who told us that he has been farming in the area for many years.

"There is no piped water from ever since and dem time a year yah, di time is very dry. I plant like yam, banana, cassava, pumpkin and so on, and mi depend on mainly water from the rain or di spring. Di journey to walk for the spring water is not easy," Edwards said.

Several persons also complained about poor mobile phone signal in the area.

One of the bad roads in the community. - Ian Allen photos

A spring where many community residents get water.