National Education Trust Ensuring That No School Is Left Behind

When Hurricane Melissa swept across Jamaica on October 28 last year, it left behind a trail of destruction that disrupted communities, damaged infrastructure, and tested the resilience of the nation’s education system.

However, amid the challenges, schools are steadily returning to normalcy, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) and its agency, the National Education Trust (NET).

Executive Director of NET, Latoya Harris-Ghartey, and her team are on a mission, ensuring that no school is left behind in the restoration process.

“In moments of crisis, careful planning, strong coordination, and adherence to high standards are essential. Our focus is on ensuring that schools are restored properly and sustainably with infrastructure that is stronger and better able to withstand future events. Together, we are truly building back stronger,” she said, in an interview with JIS News.

Mrs. Harris-Ghartey, who has been leading the Trust’s recovery operations, emphasised that effective crisis management must prioritise quality and resilience over haste. “The objective is not simply to return to what existed before, but to rebuild with improved standards that enhance durability and reduce vulnerability to future climatic events,” she added.

This approach aligns with the MoESYI’s position, deliberately choosing quality over speed in its response to repairing schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, ensuring that repairs are done to a standard that supports long-term safety and resilience.

Over the past two months, NET has begun repair work at more than 35 schools across the island affected by Hurricane Melissa, as part of its ongoing post-hurricane assessment and restoration efforts.

They include institutions in the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny, Manchester and St. Ann.

In St. Elizabeth, the impact of recent events was felt deeply at Lacovia Primary and Infant School. Having only just navigated the challenges of Hurricane Beryl, the community found itself facing a familiar struggle. However, support from the Ministry of Education and NET, ensured learning continuity.

Principal, Stacia Williams-Brown, described the assistance from the Ministry of Education and NET as a “lifeline”, noting that the start of rebuilding efforts has reassured students, teachers, and parents that their safe space will soon be fully restored.

This theme of continuity is repeated at other institutions across the parish. At Hampton School, students have already returned to their classrooms as repairs, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and NET, continue in tandem with daily lessons.

Vice Principal, Donavan Graham, said the visible progress on campus has served as a powerful motivator for the entire school community.

Similarly, St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) benefited from a rapid intervention that allowed the institution to resume teaching and learning within just three weeks after the storm.

Principal, Keith Wellington, credited this swift response with minimising learning loss and restoring the essential routines of the student body.

The experience of Munro College served as a validation of the Government’s long-term investment in resilient infrastructure. While the school did sustain damage, Principal, Dr. Mark Smith, informed that the institution fared significantly better than others due to previous roofing upgrades facilitated by NET.

According to Mrs. Harris-Ghartey, the fact that these improved systems withstood a Category Five hurricane proves that investing in resilience before a disaster strikes is a strategy that ultimately saves both resources and lives.

The recovery mission extends into Trelawny and Westmoreland, where schools like William Knibb Memorial High and Falmouth Primary are undergoing extensive restoration.

At William Knibb, where the administrative block and library were significantly impacted, Vice Principal, Audrey Steele, noted that the ongoing work has brought a sense of renewed hope.

The commencement of rebuilding works at Falmouth Primary School marks a significant milestone in the school’s recovery journey. For students, teachers and parents, this step represents renewed hope and a pathway towards stability.

In Westmoreland, The Manning School is progressing steadily towards recovery. While infrastructure damage initially disrupted academic activities, prompt assessments and early interventions by the Ministry and NET have stabilised school operations.

Meanwhile, at Maud McLeod High School, damage to roofing infrastructure threatened to delay the academic calendar and disrupt learning continuity. However, critical repairs were undertaken, allowing the school to resume operations in phases and, ultimately, accommodated its full student population in January.

In Manchester, the recovery at Manchester High School is being viewed as an opportunity for transformation.

Principal, Jasford Gabriel, commended the early assessments that have allowed the school to operate while reconstruction progresses, aiming for a final result that is safer and stronger than before the storm.

The above sentiment is shared at Sturge Town Primary and Infant School in St. Ann, where Acting Principal, Claudetta Goldsmith, noted that the quick support for their early-childhood learners has been vital in restoring community confidence.

As repair works continue across the island, the National Education Trust has reiterated that no school will be left behind.

Mrs. Harris-Ghartey maintains that the work of the Trust transcends the physical repair of walls and roofs, it is a mission to restore the dignity, confidence, and future opportunities of Jamaica’s children, ensuring that the education system emerges from the shadows of Hurricane Melissa more robust than ever before.

NET is a Registered Charitable Organisation and a Government of Jamaica agency that mobilises financial and quality resource investments for the education sector by collaborating with the Jamaican diaspora and other local and international stakeholders to bring transformative impact to underserved areas in the education system, achieving greater levels of access to education and learning.