Manning's School reopens as post Beryl repairs continue

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

Debris from the damage caused by Hurricane Beryl and ongoing repairs at the Manning's School could no longer delay the start of the new academic year for students at the 286-year-old Westmoreland based institution.

 

Hurricane winds swept away the roofs of several classrooms at the second oldest institution in Jamaica in July, delaying the September 2 start to the new school year.

 

The phased reopening began on Monday and teaching and learning got underway for fifth form students on Tuesday.

 

Radio Jamaica News observed scores of first form students, parents and teachers on the school compound on Wednesday morning.

 

Head Master Steve Gordon said there were delays to the start of repair work but he is hopeful that major repairs will be completed come next week. 

 

"We would have received a deadline date for the 29th of August this year. Part of the reason for that is that the material has been very slow in coming and we realise that material is very short, from what I heard. Because of the hurricane, of course, everybody is rebuilding and so on. So we would have received materials late on some occasions. Because of that it would have held up progress," he acknowledged. 

 

Despite the repairs being delayed, Mr. Gordon believes the work can be completed next week when students will come in by year group for registration. 

 

More than 1,700 students are enrolled at the institution.

 

Construction workers say repairs could have been swiftly completed had it not been for the shortage of material. 

 

The historic Thomas Manning Building, which received little damage, remains cordoned off.

 

The school was also extensively damaged by a hurricane in 1780.