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By Clinton McGregor
The government will have to find more than $3 billion to repair schools damaged by Hurricane Beryl.
More than 200 schools were damaged during the hurricane, sparking fear that it will be a not so smooth start to the new school year for some students.
In response to questions from the media at Wednesday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Education Minister Fayval Williams admitted that the repair bill has ballooned from the original estimate of $2.7 billion and could rise further.
"Given that the number of schools assessed has increased, yes, that would increase. But it's not a figure that I want to publish right now. More money will be required as we go through the school year," she acknowledged before revealing that the cost is now more than $3 billion.
The Ministry has issued a number of private contracts to speed up the repairs to damaged schools in time for the new school year.
Minister Williams conceded that some schools will have to use temporary accommodation at churches and other facilities while the repairs are being carried out.
She added that principals have been given the go-ahead to exercise flexibility with the reopening of schools based on the severity of the damage to their institutions.
One such school, Munro College, which the minister described as being "at the top of the list in terms of being severely damaged", will reopen in the second week of September to allow the completion of repair work before students are brought back in.
Other schools will reopen on a phased basis, staggering attendance for different grades of students.
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