Jamaican schools face readiness challenges for September reopening after hurricane

Several schools in Jamaica damaged by Hurricane Melissa might not be ready for the upcoming academic year, which begins on September 7. Senator Marlon Morgan, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, disclosed this following a two-day assessment of schools in St. Elizabeth.

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As the ministry fine-tunes preparations ahead of the start of the 2026 to 2027 school year, the political executive in the ministry has embarked on a series of visits to schools that were considerably impacted by the passage of hurricane Melissa. Primarily, schools that have been deemed priority one schools based on the severity of damage to school infrastructure consequent on the passage of hurricane Melissa.

Morgan described the preparedness levels across the affected schools as a "mixed bag." He visited numerous schools, including Elderslie Primary and Infant School, Glen Stuart Primary and Infant School, and Maggotty High School, to evaluate their condition and discuss repair progress with contractors. The ministry is prioritizing the return of students to face-to-face learning, emphasizing schools as safe spaces.

However, contractors are encountering significant obstacles, primarily a shortage of skilled labor and essential building materials. The lack of carpenters has delayed roof repairs, while electrical installations and other construction work are also affected by a scarcity of skilled workers. The demand for construction materials has surged post-hurricane, exacerbating shortages for roofing and window installations.

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mixed bag

One contractor at Black River Primary and Infant School reported that a supplier had halted a shipment of window materials due to the high cost of international shipping, partly attributed to the conflict in the Middle East. These combined challenges could prevent some schools from fully reopening for in-person classes as scheduled.

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A key part of our visit to the respective schools was to essentially impress upon the contractors and hold them to account in relation to expediting and accelerating the pace at which work was being undertaken to get the respective school plans in readiness for the September envisaged reopening of school.