Principal of St Christopher’s School for the Deaf in Brown’s Town, St Ann, Donna Harris, is seeking to raise awareness about the institution in order to get much-needed assistance for the children who attend.

Harris, who was speaking to the Jamaica Observer North & East during a tour of the school last Tuesday, said that one of the school’s major needs is for awareness from parents and the public.

“I want persons to recognise that there is a school in St Ann for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and for students who are born of deaf parents, and need help in learning to communicate with their parents and also for parents to become more involved in the education of their children who are here. If we could get those things on stream then we would be doing good,” Harris said.

On the resource side of things, she said that the school is short of computers and tablets as the students are visual learners. Added to that, school and personal supplies are needed, she said. And at the same time, the institution is in need of a roof.

In an earlier interview with Observer North & East Harris disclosed that the roof leaks as well as it is infested with termites.

The termites, Harris said, are “affecting the school and the dorm, but it’s especially bad at the school where we have things falling from the roof onto the classroom furniture, and the dust from that is causing respiratory issues with some of the students and teachers. The problem is very critical.”

She said that the roof of the dorm leaks severely and that the 38 children who stay there do so for the greater portion of the school year. The school has a population of 42 students — 23 boys and 19 girls.

Harris stressed that it is the responsibility of the school to provide a safe environment for the students and staff.

Sagicor Jamaica has stepped in to assist.

Here are some photos: