JTA says some schools in western Jamaica not ready for reopening

By Clinton McGregor 

 

 

President of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, La Sonja Harrison, says many of the schools in western Jamaica are not ready for the opening of the new school year. 

 

The JTA president, who has been touring schools in the west since Monday, said she's deeply concerned about the conditions of the schools, most of them now undergoing reconstruction following the damaged caused by Hurricane Melissa. 

 

Speaking with members of the media following Tuesday's tour, the JTA president asserted that the conditions at some schools are not conducive to teaching and learning. 

 

She added that teachers and administrators are now concerned about the safety of students as reconstruction exercises are carried out at the various institutions.

 

"We know schools should be about the matter of teaching and learning. For some schools it may be that they're accommodating the children, based on the situations that we're observing. But hats off to our administrators and teachers who have become site supervisors, construction site supervisors, yes, and safety managers on school plants because they certainly have to have taken a crash course or it's an on-the-job training, based on what it is that they have to be navigating with the construction taking place as well as ensure the safety of our children while they have been invited back into the school space," she said. 

 

The JTA president also disclosed that no work is taking place at some schools. 

 

"There's no work going on here at Coke's View and the teachers and students are in need of the spacing in order to accommodate the children in some semblance of normalcy and with space. We cannot be cramming the children into space. So we look to see and hope what will be taking place before Monday of next week, because by Thursday all children are expected to return to school because their orientation period will come to an end," she outlined. 

 

"At Unity Primary, I think that one is deeply troubling because when we went in June there were tents that the children were housed under and we highlighted that the tents are furness-like. And so the tents have been abandoned, temporary structures are being erected, but the work is being done now," Mrs. Harrison lamented.

 

Meanwhile, the JTA president again urged the government to seek outside help in the reconstruction exercise, similar to the overseas assistance received following the passage of the storm. 

 

Mrs. Harrison said the government has failed to mobilise the necessary assistance to expedite the reconstruction of schools.