Education Minister Fayval Williams says the estimated cost to repair schools that suffered damage from Hurricane Beryl now stands at over $3 billion.

The Ministry of Education and Youth’s initial assessment revealed that 309 primary and secondary schools sustained an estimated $2.7 billion in damages. However, the number of schools that sustained damage from Hurricane Beryl now stands at 362.

Williams, who was a bit reluctant to share the new estimated figure, said, “Given that the number of schools assessed has increased, yes, the figure would increase, but it’s not a figure that I want to publish right now; more money will be required… It’s now over three billion.”

She was speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, August 28.

“There are a number of schools that would have been impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl — 362 — but I want to remind you that across the education system, we do have 1,009 primary and high schools, and so I did the math, and it says that 647 were not impacted by Hurricane Beryl, and so those schools are in the normal mode of clean-up and readiness,” Williams said.

She said focus is now being placed on the 362 schools that suffered different levels of damage, with a special focus being given to priority one schools that have been severely damaged.

“As we looked at the 362 schools, we had to place them in priority groups. Priority one would be the severely damaged schools, 170 of those, and we know we definitely had to do the work to get those fixed in order for them to be up and ready. Priority two schools (139 schools) are schools that are moderately damaged. What is damaged at those schools can be fixed while schools are in session; and priority three, minor damage, 116 of those schools. They can open on September 2nd, and during the school year, we tend to the damage that was done,” the education minister added.

The Education Minister noted that much focus was placed on the repair of priority one schools for the reopening of school on September 2. These schools suffered a range of damage to ranging from roofing, windows, doors and electrical.

“I want to say a big thank you to all our contractors who have been working; there are about 45 different contractors across the 107 schools. We had a very narrow window in which to effect these repairs. If you recall, hurricane hit us on July 3rd. School is to open September 2nd, so that’s about eight weeks or so to really get things in gear, something that we have never done before. But based on these contractors just rallying to the task and our building officers, our regional directors, everyone, we are at a good place looking at the start of school for September 2nd,” Williams added.

She further noted that principals have the discretion to determine the process by which they welcome students back to school given their context in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.