As the nation undertakes the repair and rebuilding of schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, the National Education Trust (NET) has underscored the importance of embedding resilience in all new infrastructure. “After [Hurricane] Beryl, a lot of the focus was on getting our schools ready for [the 2024/25 academic year, beginning] September, which we did. Now we are trying to be...

The St. Catherine-based Jonathan Grant High School is celebrating 100 per cent passes in six subjects in this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC). These are Agricultural Science, Building and Construction, Building Technology, Industrial Electrical Technology, Physical Education and Sport, and Textile, Clothing, and Fashion. Acting Principal of the school, Cheryl Shippey, in her report at the recent graduation ceremony...

The National Education Trust (NET) is urging donors and partners to channel recovery assistance through the agency, as it spearheads relief efforts for schools impacted by Category Five Hurricane Melissa in October. Executive Director, Latoya Harris-Ghartey, emphasised that coordinated support is vital to ensuring aid reaches the institutions most in need and aligns with national recovery priorities. She told JIS...

Black River and Brampton primary and infant schools in St. Elizabeth have received donations of hurricane relief supplies valued at over $500,000 from the Friends of Region 6. The items, which were handed over to the institutions on November 28, included care packages containing food, shoes, clothing, and water. The organisation also assisted with ongoing clean-up at the schools and...

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is ramping up targeted support for children with disabilities affected by Hurricane Melissa. UNICEF Social Policy Officer, André Miller, explained that children with disabilities were among the hardest hit by the hurricane, facing multiple layers of vulnerability. “Families with children who have mobility or sensory impairments were [placed] in emergency shelters. Crowded and noisy...

Sixteen-year-old Obrien Rose, a former student of Seaforth High School in St. Thomas, says his journey from a shy teenager to an internationally exposed scholar has shaped his mission to help Jamaica embrace technology and empower youth. Currently a Computer Science student at the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica, in Kingston, Obrien excelled in a range of academic competitions, including...

Acting Principal of Orange Bay Primary School in Portland, Morlette Miller, says several initiatives are being pursued to strengthen parental support at the institution. She says this is imperative in assisting to “develop our students academically and socially”. “We need more parents and community members on board so we can continue to grow. The school is located in a rural...