NET rebuilding hope at Strawberry, Catherine Hall Primary and Infant schools

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The National Education Trust (NET) continues to advance post-Hurricane Melissa rebuilding efforts across Jamaica, restoring critical infrastructure at affected schools and helping to create stronger, safer and more resilient learning environments for students and educators. Representatives from NET, a registered charitable organisation and an agency of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI), recently visited the Strawberry Primary and Infant School in Westmoreland and the Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School in St James, where rebuilding works have been ongoing following damage caused by the hurricane The visits provided an opportunity for the NET team to see first-hand the progress being made at the institutions and to hear directly from school leaders about the impact of the rebuilding efforts on their students, staff and wider school communities. At the Strawberry Primary and Infant School, Hurricane Melissa caused significant damage to the institution, including the loss of sections of roofing and windows. Principal Travert Clarke said NET’s intervention has played an important role in helping the school recover and commended the speed at which support was mobilised following the hurricane. “As a result of Hurricane Melissa, we lost sections of our roofs and several windows, and the school sustained quite a bit of damage. NET has partnered with us to help with the rebuilding and recovery process, and I want to commend both NET and the Ministry of Education for their support. I was particularly impressed by how quickly they came in and began the recovery process following Hurricane Melissa,” Clarke said. The rebuilding efforts at Strawberry Primary and Infant School will also extend beyond some of the works that were initially identified. Clarke explained that the school lost a chicken coop during the hurricane, which had been used to rear chickens in support of the school’s canteen programme. He welcomed NET’s commitment to have the facility replaced. “We also lost our chicken coop, where we reared chickens to support our school’s canteen. NET has indicated that the coop will also be replaced, which is truly commendable, particularly as this was not part of the initial rebuilding plans. We are extremely grateful for that additional support,” he said. For the school community, the intervention represents another important step towards restoring normalcy and rebuilding facilities that support not only teaching and learning, but also the wider needs of students. A similar sense of gratitude was expressed at the Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School in St James, where several buildings were compromised during Hurricane Melissa, particularly the roofs. Principal Kay-Esther Malcolm said the rebuilding works have brought significant relief to the school community, particularly with the installation of new roofs across the institution. “I want to say a big thank you to the National Education Trust and the Ministry of Education for partnering with us following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. Many of our buildings were compromised, particularly our roofs, so we are extremely grateful that we can now say that all our roofs are brand new,” Malcolm said. She noted that the completed works have helped to address one of the major concerns faced by the institution following the hurricane. “The roofs are beautiful, and we no longer have to worry about leaks and the challenges we previously experienced. We are very pleased with the work that has been done and sincerely grateful to NET for what it has done for Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School,” she added. The rebuilding works at Strawberry Primary and Infant School and Catherine Hall Primary and Infant School form part of the wider post-Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts being undertaken across Jamaica’s education sector. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, school administrators, communities, donors and other partners, NET continues to support the rebuilding of critical education infrastructure and the restoration of safe and functional spaces for students and educators. Executive Director of the National Education Trust Latoya Harris-Ghartey, said the progress being made at the two institutions demonstrates the importance of responding not only to the immediate infrastructural needs of schools, but also to the facilities and resources that contribute to the overall well-being of students. “Every school has its own story of how Hurricane Melissa affected its students, educators and wider community. Our responsibility is to listen to those needs and work with our partners to help these institutions recover. Whether it is replacing a damaged roof, restoring windows or supporting a facility that contributes to a school’s canteen programme, each intervention brings that school one step closer to normalcy and gives our children a safer and more comfortable environment in which to learn,” Harris-Ghartey said. She added that the rebuilding programme is also an opportunity to strengthen Jamaica’s education infrastructure for the future. “Our focus is not simply on replacing what was lost. As we rebuild, we must continue to look at how we can create stronger and more resilient learning environments that are better positioned to withstand future challenges. This is what building back stronger means for NET – ensuring that the work we undertake today provides lasting value for our students, teachers and school communities,” she said. NET continues to work alongside the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and other stakeholders to advance rebuilding activities at schools affected by Hurricane Melissa across Jamaica. The organisation also continues to utilise its social media platforms to document these interventions, share the voices of school communities and highlight the progress being made as institutions recover. Donors, partners, members of the Jamaican Diaspora, parents and other stakeholders are encouraged to follow NET online to remain updated on ongoing rebuilding activities and opportunities to support Jamaica’s education sector. The National Education Trust says it remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting schools across Jamaica as they recover, rebuild and emerge stronger for the future.