KINGSTON, Jamaica — As educational institutions resume operations for the Easter Term, Jamaican authorities have implemented comprehensive contingency measures to ensure academic continuity despite widespread infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.
The Category 5 hurricane significantly damaged over 600 educational facilities, prompting the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information to develop a multi-faceted recovery strategy. Portfolio Minister Senator Dana Morris Dixon outlined the approach, explaining that temporary arrangements will include shared campus spaces, blended learning methodologies, and innovative host school partnerships.
Minister Morris Dixon emphasized that the reconstruction effort extends beyond mere physical repairs. “We’re not simply restoring damaged infrastructure,” she stated. “This disaster presents an opportunity to reimagine and reconstruct an education system that embodies enhanced safety, technological integration, and climate resilience.”
The minister acknowledged the profound challenges facing families and educators, particularly in western Jamaica where the hurricane inflicted severe damage. She praised the collaborative efforts of ministry teams, community partners, and school personnel who worked extensively to facilitate the return to safe learning environments.
Morris Dixon specifically recognized school administrators, teaching staff, and support personnel for their exceptional leadership and creativity during the recovery period. Their dedicated efforts have enabled numerous schools across the nation to resume operations despite the unprecedented challenges posed by one of Jamaica’s most destructive natural disasters in recent history.