Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon says the decision to reopen schools will be made by school boards and principals, based on local conditions.

“If you don’t have water, you can’t open school; that’s a minimum. You have to have water to open schools. But then there may be other issues in the community. There may be issues with the teachers and their ability to get in. So, all of that is taken into consideration, and the school board and the principal make that decision, working with the regional teams in the Ministry,” Dr Morris Dixon stated.

The minister was speaking during a special press briefing on Hurricane Melissa recovery at Jamaica House in Kingston on Monday.

She encouraged the institutions that are able to reopen to do so, noting that studies indicate that a return to regular routine is beneficial for children following a disaster.

“The psychologists have made it clear that after a disaster, the quicker children get back to their routine is the better it is for their mental health. It’s also the case for all of us. They actually say that the quicker we move through this grief is the better it is for us in the long run,” Dr Morris Dixon pointed out.

She noted that several schools in the Corporate Area have reopened, while others remain closed.

Meanwhile, the Education Minister acknowledged that the country is facing a unique situation with reopening schools that saw significant damage.

She noted that visits to Holmwood Technical High School in Manchester and St Elizabeth Technical High School at the weekend revealed tremendous damage at those institutions.

Senator Morris Dixon said innovative strategies will need to be deployed to address the education needs of students in parishes hardest hit.

“I’m very heartened that some principals are looking at how they could find space in their schools to facilitate children from western Jamaica. The Ministry will continue to work with those schools to facilitate that. It’s early days and we’re thinking it through, and we’re working it through,” the Education Minister said.