NET Rehabilitates Hurricane-Damaged Schools in St. James, Trelawny and St. Ann

Thousands of students and teachers are now benefiting from improved learning environments as the National Education Trust (NET) continues its efforts to restore school infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Melissa.

The entity recently assessed and rehabilitated four schools across St. James, St. Ann and Trelawny, enabling students and teachers to return to safer and more resilient educational facilities.

The institutions – Cambridge Primary School in St. James, Retirement Primary and Infant School in St. Ann, and Cedric Titus High School and Troy High School in Trelawny – were among several educational institutions impacted by the hurricane, which caused extensive damage to roofs, classrooms and other critical infrastructure.

At Cambridge Primary School, NET carried out reroofing works after sections of the facility sustained significant damage.

Acting Principal, Audriana Reid-Gongasingh, points out that the school’s upper floor was among the areas most severely affected, noting that “the entire roof was gone”.

She says NET’s intervention has restored a vital part of the school’s infrastructure and enhanced safety for both students and staff, adding that the improvements have enabled the school to fully accommodate its grade-one students.

“So now thanks to NET, our school roofs are 95 per cent restored. The support from the National Education Trust has made a significant difference to our school. We are grateful for the partnership and the continued attention being given to the needs of our school community,” Mrs. Reid-Gongasingh adds.

Meanwhile, students and teachers at Retirement Primary and Infant School have returned to their campus after extensive rehabilitation works were completed.

The project included reroofing, repainting, the installation of an accessibility ramp, and general repairs aimed at restoring hurricane-damaged areas and enhancing the overall school environment.

Principal, Nadeen Fisher, says the assistance came at a critical time, as classes had to be relocated after the school sustained extensive damage.

“The assistance that NET provided has allowed us to return to our school building. There were several areas that required attention and, as such, we had to carry out teaching and learning at our local church and under tents. This intervention from the National Education Trust has addressed our critical needs, and we are very grateful for the support,” she points out.

NET also completed major rehabilitation projects at Cedric Titus High School and Troy High School in Trelawny.

At Troy High School, NET carried out a range of infrastructure upgrades, including restoring perimeter fencing, installing gutters on all seven school blocks, rehabilitating the basketball court, replacing damaged windows, and reinstalling classroom partitions.

Principal, Eddie Whyte, says the works have significantly enhanced the school’s operations and improved its learning environment, while expressing gratitude on behalf of the institution’s stakeholders.

At Cedric Titus High School, NET undertook critical roofing repairs, replacing the damaged roof with a waterproof membrane designed to strengthen the institution’s resilience to severe weather conditions.

Principal, Joan Higgins, says the intervention has brought welcome relief to the institution.

“I want to express our sincere thanks to the National Education Trust for the urgent repairs that were undertaken. The intervention has made a significant difference to the school, and we are very grateful for the support provided,” she adds.

NET Executive Director, Latoya Harris-Ghartey, notes that the projects underscore the importance of investing in safe and resilient infrastructure that supports positive educational outcomes.

She points out that when schools are damaged by disasters, the impact extends beyond infrastructure, affecting students, teachers, families, and entire communities.

“Our responsibility is to help ensure that schools can recover and return to providing safe and supportive spaces for learning as quickly as possible,” the Executive Director emphasises.

Mrs. Harris-Ghartey adds that the interventions are part of NET’s broader commitment to building resilience within the education sector, addressing immediate infrastructure needs while ensuring schools are better equipped to withstand future challenges.

The National Education Trust, a registered charitable organisation and agency of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, continues to mobilise resources and forge partnerships to support school rehabilitation efforts across Jamaica.

Through its infrastructure development programme, the organisation is working to restore critical facilities, enhance resilience, and provide students and teachers with safe, functional, and supportive environments for teaching and learning.

NET encourages members of the Jamaican Diaspora, corporate partners, donors, parents, and the wider public to follow its social media platforms and support initiatives that strengthen the education sector and help build brighter futures for Jamaica’s children.