KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s education system continues to grapple with the extensive aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with complete rehabilitation of damaged schools projected to require up to eighteen months. The disclosure came from Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon during a ministerial address to the Senate on Friday.
While all educational institutions officially resumed classes on January 14th, Minister Morris Dixon acknowledged that many facilities are operating under suboptimal conditions. Numerous schools have implemented rotational attendance systems to accommodate ongoing repairs while ensuring continuous learning.
The minister expressed particular concern about rotational learning arrangements, stating emphatically, ‘I want rotations ended as quickly as possible.’ She explained the varying timelines for repairs, noting that while some facilities require approximately six months of work, others need nearly complete reconstruction, extending the process to a year and a half.
Complex reconstruction efforts present significant logistical challenges, as work must proceed around academic schedules. Contractors are conducting repairs during nights and weekends to minimize disruption. In some cases, rehabilitation includes infrastructure upgrades—replacing temporary zinc roofs with more durable concrete slabs, which contributes to extended timelines.
To address classroom shortages, the education ministry has implemented a strategic redeployment of temporary structures. Once repairs conclude at one facility, tents are relocated to other schools still undergoing reconstruction, helping reduce rotational attendance numbers.
The ministry maintains a firm policy requiring all examination-year students to attend school five days weekly. This applies to pupils preparing for Primary Exit Profile (PEP), Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) tests. Rotational schedules affect only those students not facing imminent external examinations.