Face-to-Face Classes Resume at Lacovia Primary After Hurricane Melissa Disruption

Face-to-face classes have fully resumed at Lacovia Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, after months of disruption caused by infrastructural damage from Hurricane Melissa, even as restoration works continue on sections of the compound.

This was confirmed by Principal, Stacia Williams Brown, who noted that the institution is grateful to have fully resumed classes.

She told JIS News that the institution initially operated on a rotation system after reopening in November following the hurricane’s passage adding, “now we have invited all our students back to school.”

The Principal reported that student attendance is steadily improving, with 293 students currently enrolled at the institution.

She added that efforts continue to locate other students who remain absent, having been displaced by the damage to the school.

Mrs. Williams Brown explained that some relocated to other parishes to stay with family members.

She outlined the extent of the damage sustained by the school, noting that it affected key facilities used daily by students and staff.

“Our students’ bathroom was damaged as well as our administrative block, the fence… quite a lot of damage here on the compound,” Mrs. Williams Brown told JIS News.

She indicated that restoration works, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information through the National Education Trust (NET), commenced in December and have been advancing steadily since then.

Mrs. Williams Brown said the school’s administration is “hopeful that within the next three months, we will be back in our office space.”

She expressed appreciation to the Ministry for its support, as well as to the contractors undertaking the rehabilitation work, noting that the school community remains encouraged by the assistance being provided.