During a recent visit by a team from Jamaica National Group to the Victor Dixon High and New Forest Primary and Infant schools in Manchester, it was discovered that several classrooms and essential infrastructure are still in urgent need of repair following the devastating passage of Hurricane Beryl in July.

The schools presently face challenges maintaining basic operations despite their best efforts to keep learning uninterrupted, as they need financial support to fully restore their facilities. Both institutions were left with significant roof and water damage, reducing space capacity for students and teachers ahead of the 2024/25 academic year, after the passage of category four storm.

Ian Newman, teacher and dean of discipline at Victor Dixon High School, disclosed that approximately 50 per cent of the school’s operating spaces were compromised, forcing all activities to the ground level.

“We have tried to commandeer other spaces to assist us in conducting our different classes, particularly for fifth form students,” he said, noting that some lessons are being conducted outdoors, under gazebos, and in the lunchroom because of the limited classroom spaces.

“There have been times since the reopening of school where we have had to run from the gazebos outside to get shelter inside and persons had to be standing in the passageway and scampering for other classrooms for teachers to conduct their lessons,” Newman added.

Yet, despite the workarounds, the situation is contributing to frustration among staff, students, and other stakeholders connected to the schools, according to Newman.

“Financial support will, in my estimation, improve the rate at which our recovery process can take place so that we can return to normal operation mode. Any aid and support at this time will reduce some of the unnecessary stresses and Victor Dixon High will welcome any support from any person or institution by way of donation, gifts, or even physical labour input,” he said.

Further south in Manchester, Sharon Anderson, principal of New Forest Primary and Infant School said staff there have “had to be geniuses” to make school operational, despite the devastation.

“We’re not doing too badly now but it has been a rough couple of weeks. I’ve been on the ground every day since the passage of the hurricane,” Anderson shared.

“Each grade typically has three classrooms, but due to the damage, I had to borrow a classroom from grade six, leaving us with two classrooms for that grade. I also borrowed one room from grade five and we’re using those classrooms to host grade one students,” she explained.

Two additional classrooms are also temporarily set up in a recently completed space to serve as a dining hall for students.

The New Forest Primary and Infant received a boost to restoration activities recently from JN Money customers and staff who donated $1 million. JN Money also handed over care packages to the school in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.

The JN Foundation, which is managing the JN Group’s I Support Jamaica Fund for Beryl victims, coordinated the donations.

Claudine Allen, general manager of the JN Foundation, said the fund is still open to receiving donations that will go towards supporting the two Manchester schools and other affected spaces in and around the region. Details on more ways to donate are also on the JN Group and JN Foundation websites.

“Much of the world has moved on but those who were severely affected haven’t. We have young, bright students who are still in temporary shelters because their classrooms have not yet been repaired. JN Foundation or Jamaica National will benefit in no way or form from the funds being donated to the I Support Jamaica Fund, except that we will get the gratification knowing that we assisted, and from our end, we have waived all fees for the donations,” she added.