Clarendon teachers get psychosocial support following hurricane

 

As Jamaica grapples with the psychological strain caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa, one group of educators has been armed to navigate the mental minefield that awaits.

 

Guidance counsellors and teachers across Clarendon have assumed the seat of therapy as they received psychosocial support ahead of the full reopening of schools next Monday.

 

Regional Director for the Education Ministry's Region 7, Barrington Richardson, said the sessions are critical as several staff members have also suffered losses during the hurricane. 

 

Ahead of Friday's session, Mr. Richardson explained that guidance counsellors will be leading similar efforts for all the staff and students, which will be a heavy task.

 

"We appreciate the fact that they will need their own psychosocial support. And so a part of the ministry's response and as a region, we ensured that we supported our schools in delivering psychosocial sessions for all our teachers. And so, to date, as a region, we would have conducted approximately 15 sessions across our schools dedicated to the staff because we believe that staff need to have their own support," he asserted.

 

Friday's session was focused on guidance counsellors and health and family life teachers. 

 

There are 109 schools across the parish and of that, roughly 56 primary schools and 13 of 18 high schools reported structural damage.

 

The schools were asked to assess the extent of damage to ensure safety and security ahead of reopening. 

 

This week, 28 schools were opened while the remaining are expected to follow come Monday. Some will do so on a phased basis. 

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Richardson has urged school administrators to extend compassion during this difficult period. 

 

"We have encouraged our principals - and they have been doing that since Beryl, even during COVID - that the children who are unable to come out in their usual uniform, that they should be accepted in what they are able to wear in terms of a regular attire, and the schools are very supportive."

 

He said students who attend other schools must not be turned away.

 

"We welcome all our students, whether they are from our schools or children who are unable to return to their own parish or to their own community. Once they are nearby any of our schools in Region 7 and they would like to come to school, we welcome our parents to send them," Mr. Richardson urged.