PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association Mark Malabver is uneasy with directives by the education ministry for some schools to reopen on Monday following the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which caused unparalleled damage on the island’s south-western coast last Tuesday.

“I certainly believe that is a decision that should be left up to the principals, in collaboration with the teachers and other stakeholders of the institutions, to determine whether or not they can, indeed, open for face-to-face classes. It can’t be a broad-brush approach, even within a particular parish; it still cannot be a broad-brush approach,” Malabver told the Jamaica Observer last Friday.

“A lot has to do with what is happening with that particular institution, where the teachers are coming from, what has happened to those teachers in terms of their own personal space, in terms of their own families, that sort of thing,” added Malabver.

MALABVER… it is a decision that should be left up to the principals in collaboration with the teachers and other stakeholders of the institutions

His concerns came in the wake of indications by Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon last Thursday that schools in less-affected parishes can reopen on November 3.

A follow-up post on the ministry’s social media page said 55 per cent of public schools are expected to reopen Monday, representing 60 per cent of students across Kingston, St Andrew, Portland, St Mary, St Thomas, St Catherine, and Clarendon.

At the media briefing last Thursday, Morris Dixon said the education ministry has activated comprehensive assessments of the nation’s schools across all regions, ensuring that learning environments are safe, secure, and ready for the return of students and staff.

Morris Dixon said the ministry is working closely with regional directors, school boards, principals, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to prioritise both safety and continuity of learning.

“We will spare no effort to ensure that our students return to safe and purposeful learning environments, this is our moral and national duty,” said Morris Dixon as she promised that the ministry will release a comprehensive situation report, covering the number of schools damaged, cost estimates for repairs, timelines for reopening, and the launch of a national “Learning Continuity” initiative.

She urged school boards and principals to liaise with their regional education offices regarding status updates, contingencies, and reopening timelines and called on parents and guardians to monitor communications from their child’s school and region, and to prepare for possible adjustments to schedules or learning formats.

“All stakeholders are urged to prioritise safety; until inspections are complete, it is prudent to assume delayed or modified school operations may be necessary,” said Morris Dixon.

But despite the safety assurances from the education minister, Malabver told the Sunday Observer that school leaders and teachers are still reeling.

“A lot of our principals and our teachers are in need at this time, we are receiving information about the level of devastation that some of our teachers and even principals have experienced. Their homes have been lost, family members have died, this thing has taken a toll on the mental health of many of our teachers,” argued Malabver.

“I just came out of a meeting with the leadership of the JTA to craft a strategy as to how best we can support our teachers. It is overwhelming at this point in time. Let us prioritise the safety and well-being and welfare of our teachers and stakeholders at this point in time and assess the situation on a case-by-case basis to determine whether or not schools are able to reopen at this time,” argued Malabver.

The JTA president said he intended to have further discussion with the leadership of the education ministry to hear what is their thinking behind all of this.

“But the reality is we are in a crisis and the safety and well-being of teachers and students should be paramount at this point in time. These are major concerns: electricity and not so much electricity, but water. We are dealing with children in a space, they need water to flush toilets and wash their hands, they need potable water. So I would urge them to err on the side of caution at this time, let’s not rush in, let’s do the assessments and take the necessary steps on a phase-by-phase basis,” Malabver added.

In a media release late Friday the JTA said it will activate a national relief response to support its members and contribute to the Melissa efforts.

Among the measures which the JTA said it is implementing are a comprehensive needs assessment, the mobilisation of relief supplies, and the formation of a disaster response committee to coordinate aid, manage logistics, and ensure transparency and accountability.

The JTA said it has also engaged its Diaspora partners to assist with providing vital financial and material support to educators in Jamaica while it remains remains in close contact with the Caribbean Union of Teachers, Education International, and other international partners to strengthen relief initiatives and secure resources for rebuilding.

Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon addressing a special press briefing at Jamaica House on Thursday Photo: JIS

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