Education Minister says most schools ready for September 2 reopening

By Clinton McGregor    

 

The Ministry of Education says all is in place for the new academic year to begin next Monday, September 2, despite damage to a number of schools following Hurricane Beryl.

 

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Minister Fayval Williams disclosed that most of the island's 1,009 schools will be ready for the new school year, with 902 of them able to reopen normally.

 

She said the authorities have been making progress in repairing the 107 schools severely damaged during the hurricane. 

 

"As of Friday, I think we're confident on about, I would say, 90 of those given where the work is. And for those for which we are seeing there might be delay, we're asking our principals to help us with a contingency plan. So a contingency plan could include temporary tent, could include using church hall across the street, and we've seen at least two of those situations," the minister outlined. 

 

She said the ministry has been working closely with the Jamaica Public Service Company to ensure power is restored to schools across the island.

 

 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Williams admitted the ministry is expecting more resignations from teachers ahead of the new academic year which starts next week.

 

But she said the Education Ministry is not expecting a major exodus this year compared with previous years. 

 

"I don't have the overall figure yet because I guess the resignations would just be coming to us either at the region or here at central ministry. Anecdotally, when I speak with principals, I don't see the same level of anxiety that we saw in past years, and when I asked them about their figures, yes, they may see one, two or three, but not at the level they experienced, let's say in 2022 or even in 2023. So I'm encouraged."