Additional $2.1b allocated to repair schools damaged by Hurricane Beryl

 

The government has allocated an additional $2.1 billion to repair another 266 schools damaged by Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. 

 

An assessment of all institutions determined that 364 schools were impacted. Some 111 schools were severely damaged during the hurricane's passage, for which $2.5 billion was spent to carry out repairs. 

 

Schools which sustained moderate and minor damage were classified as priority 2 and 3. 

 

Addressing the regional leaders' conference on Monday, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon disclosed that schools in priority groups 2 and 3 will be the focus of this round of repairs.

 

"So if you are a part of a school that was damaged by Beryl, you are on tier 2 or 3 three list, we got the money. And so we are going to be able to repair those schools. That's going to be 306 schools that will be repaired as a part of this programme, and we also have 47 whose scope of works expanded from the Huricane Beryl initial allocation. And so those 47 plus the 306 that were in tier 2 and 3 will all be repaired," she noted.

 

Meanwhile, permanent Secretary Dr. Kasan Troupe shared that as the Education Ministry awaited a second allocation, repairs were conducted at some priority 1 and 2 schools from the $628 million maintenance budget. 

 

Dr. Troupe said maintenance activities will take place at 202 schools during the summer holiday. 

 

Some $100 million has been set aside for termite treatment.