PORT ANTONIO, Portland — There are now teachers in place for all but one of the 22 vacancies Titchfield High School was struggling to fill last week, work is ongoing on wheelchair ramps, and Principal Richard Thompson was a happy man when the new academic year began. But there is still the issue of breaking in new teachers and finding a long-term fix to 16 termite-infested classrooms made of plywood.

“Things have started for us relatively well, still early days, and we are still doing the necessary assessment,” Thompson told the Jamaica Observer during a visit Monday morning.

He said they still need someone to teach physics, and the newly hired teachers will take time to get up to speed.

“We’ll have significant work to do in terms of mentorship and support for our new teachers so that we do not lose out,” said the principal.

His optimism waned a bit more when he spoke about the school’s physical structure. Repairs were made during the summer break but Thompson is worried that ‘Portmore’ cannot be saved. That’s the name given to 16 classrooms made of plywood [plyboard], erected about 25 years ago as a way to accommodate more students so the school could stop using the shift system. Once seen as a “blessing”, Portmore has now become a challenge.

“It is difficult to maintain those plyboard classrooms. Every year we spend significant sums repairing — millions — as they don’t stand up to the weather and termites. This year we took a stance not to sacrifice teaching material for repairs and the Ministry of Education stepped in and gave some support in repairing the 16 plyboard classrooms… We changed some of the plyboards, windows, electrical repairs, and [did] some painting,” Thompson said.

Now he wants to see a long-term solution.

“I appeal to the ministry to send a representative to look at the 16 classrooms to make them permanent,” he urged.

Meanwhile, he expressed gratitude for assistance that has been provided in other areas of the school.

“We’ll have our first student who needs wheelchair access ramp, and the ministry has also stepped in [by] providing ramps needed. Ramps are at some classrooms, bathrooms, administrative building, two science labs, and an IT lab. We commend the ministry for the help and we are very grateful,” Thompson said.

The Observer noted ongoing work to install a ramp at the font of the building. It appeared to be almost complete.