KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s education system has successfully resumed operations across all 1,010 schools nationwide following the disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa. Chief Education Officer Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle confirmed the comprehensive reopening during a post-Cabinet press briefing held Wednesday.
The educational restoration encompasses all 446 institutions located within the three regions most affected by the hurricane. These include region three (covering St. Ann and Trelawny parishes), region four (including Hanover, St. James, and Westmoreland), and region five (encompassing Manchester and St. Elizabeth).
Detailed operational data reveals varied learning modalities across the affected regions. In region three, 109 schools have returned to full face-to-face instruction while 14 institutions have implemented rotational schedules to facilitate recovery efforts. Region four shows 127 schools operating with traditional in-person learning alongside 37 utilizing rotational systems. Region five reports 135 schools conducting normal face-to-face classes with only seven maintaining rotational arrangements.
Thomas-Gayle emphasized the ministry’s precautionary approach, stating: ‘Our reopening policy prioritized safety above all considerations. We maintained close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to guarantee that all learning environments met safety standards for operational readiness.’
The education official acknowledged ongoing challenges, noting that infrastructure repairs, electrical system restoration, power supply continuity, and water tank replacements remain priority areas requiring continued attention from ministry teams.