Education ministry to maintain close oversight of rebuilding of schools

Jamaica’s education ministry will keep close watch over the reconstruction of schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, including through unannounced visits by Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon.

During a back-to-school readiness visit to Ferris Primary School in Westmoreland on Sept. 2, Morris Dixon said she would continue making surprise inspections. Independent personnel and ministry leaders will also visit schools and submit reports, which will be compared with contractors’ updates to identify discrepancies and areas requiring intervention.

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I’ll continue to show up unannounced. That’s not going to stop.

Rehabilitation is advancing at different speeds, she said, making continuous monitoring necessary even after schools reopen. The government is using the rebuilding program to make facilities more resilient rather than simply restoring them to their pre-hurricane condition. Planned measures include rainwater harvesting systems, solar technology where possible, hurricane straps on roofs, improved windows and slabs, with protection considered against both hurricanes and drought.

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We have to continue monitoring when school has opened.

Morris Dixon said the additional work could extend completion times, but argued that the long-term benefits would be greater. The ministry is also procuring and distributing desks and chairs to replace furniture damaged in the hurricane. It has purchased about $700 million in books for primary and high schools, with distribution continuing during the school term.

The rebuilding effort has also given the ministry lessons for future emergencies. Managing 300 separate contracts and scopes of work, along with several review stages, has helped officials identify ways to streamline the process while keeping necessary checks in place.

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What that means, though, is that it may take longer for each of the repairs, but in the long run it will be beneficial to the country as a whole.