Ninety-six per cent of schools in Region Three of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information successfully reopened their doors for the new academic term, despite the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa.

During a back-to-school tour on Wednesday, January 7, across parts of St Ann, Minister of State in the Ministry Rhoda Moy Crawford told JIS News that she was satisfied with the progress being made to have most students back in face-to-face classes.

The State Minister began the day at Sturge Town Primary and Infant School, before travelling to Bamboo Primary and Infant School.

Crawford noted that both institutions demonstrated resilience and innovation in maintaining teaching despite ongoing repairs.

“At Sturge Town Primary, I was very impressed with what I saw happening there, a perfect example of multiple modalities learning taking place. Some of the students are in their usual classrooms [and] some are being housed by a tent provided by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund),” she stated.

“The infant department—they’re being accommodated at Sturge Town New Testament Church, and I really want to thank the members…for opening the doors of their church to us,” she added.

Crawford indicated that the reconstruction work at Sturge Town Primary is now approximately 40 per cent complete.

Over at Bamboo Primary School, the state minister noted that about 80 per cent of students have returned to face-to-face learning, with the school repairs coming on steadily.

She also commended the principal and school leadership for implementing clear systems to protect students, including safely cordoning off construction areas to prevent access.

“I just want to assure Jamaica that the Ministry of Education at all levels has been in the main engine room. From the passage of Hurricane Melissa, our first set of people who were out were the school principals. They went out [and] they did their initial assessments. The Regional Directors and building officers went out. Assessments were done by NET (National Education Trust),” Crawford explained.

“We also want to thank our different partners, too, like UNICEF [and] UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). So many persons and the churches have been coming on board to help us. It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach that we’re using to get our students back in the structured and formal teaching and learning environment,” she added.

For her part, Regional Director for Region three, Karlene Segre, confirmed that schools have reopened using a range of modalities, including face-to-face instruction, online learning for some grades, and supplemental learning kits distributed by the ministry.

She informed that all primary and secondary schools in the region have received both the learning kits and the revised curriculum to continue the learning process despite the disruption.  

“Our teachers in Region Three, they are committed, they are dedicated, and they’re also competitive and they are going to do their best to implement all the measures,” Segre stated.

Meanwhile, acting Principal of Bamboo Primary School, Trevor McKenzie, welcomed the visit from the ministry and said it provided an opportunity for officials to see first-hand the damage caused by the hurricane and the progress being made.

He noted that a significant number of students have already returned to the classroom at the institution.

He added that safety protocols have been established to protect students while construction work proceeds.