Widespread Support for Institutions in Region Four

Community groups, churches, past students’ associations and diaspora partners have played a critical role in strengthening the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information’s recovery efforts across Region Four following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Regional Director, Dr. Michele Pinnock, told JIS News that schools in the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland have benefited from widespread support as they work to restore teaching and learning, noting that “everybody is partnering with our schools”.

She said that the assistance from both local and overseas partners is helping to address immediate needs while reinforcing morale within school communities.

“We have the past students’ associations and, of course, the Jamaicans in the diaspora that have actually reached out and they are wanting to help,” she pointed out.

Dr. Pinnock noted that this spirit of cooperation includes schools from other parts of the island, with students and staff travelling to the western parishes to offer assistance.

She noted that the support includes acts of encouragement aimed at helping students cope emotionally after the disruption, with children in the other parishes sending letters and drawings.

Dr. Pinnock said the Ministry is also strengthening engagement with parents to ensure that students remain supported at home as schools stabilise.

“We’re going to be having a number of parent sessions and we’re going to be having those virtually as well as face-to-face,” she told JIS News.

She noted that schools are also being encouraged to re-establish designated spaces to support parents directly.

These spaces are intended to help families access guidance, ask questions and connect with additional support services where needed.

“These are spaces where we actually help our parents to network with other resources,” Dr. Pinnock told JIS News.

She noted that the Ministry is also promoting the use of national learning platforms to support students academically as recovery continues across Region Four.

“We have the Book Fusion website; we have the JamLearning; we have the learning passport,” she told JIS News.

She noted that high-school students also have access to virtual instruction.

“One Academy, National Virtual School – they have live sessions that are open to high school students once they have their ministry email addresses,” she pointed out.

The Regional Director said that the combined support from communities, parents and national resources continues to strengthen the region’s ability to stabilise learning following Hurricane Melissa.