The Government and Opposition on Wednesday presented a united front in relation to the reopening of schools following Hurricane Melissa, which devastated sections of Jamaica last week.

In a joint press release, Minister of Education and Youth, Dr Dana Morris Dixon, and Opposition Spokesperson on Education and Early Childhood Development, Damion Crawford, expressed support for the reopening of schools safely and as quickly as conditions permit.

They also support expanding psychosocial support for students, educators and staff impacted by Hurricane Melissa, the release stated.

It further stated that, recognising that Jamaica is still recovering from the learning losses, Morris Dixon and Crawford caution that prolonged closure now could compound setbacks. Against that background, they committed to a phased, school-led, safety-first reopening guided by on-the-ground assessments of infrastructure, access, water and sanitation, electricity/connectivity, and overall readiness.

According to the release, a decentralised reopening process allows school leadership to make a determination in consultation with all stakeholders upon consideration of the local reality.

“Safety is non-negotiable, but so is our children’s right to learn. Schools should reopen as soon as they are deemed safe so that our children’s learning and their sense of normalcy can resume,” Morris Dixon said.

Our students cannot become long-term victims of short-term shocks. We want our children to return to a safe school environment and have an opportunity for success,” the education minister continued, adding “To support reopening and recovery, we are expanding access to counselling and psychosocial services for students and staff because we understand the immense stress and trauma caused by Hurricane Melissa.”

For his part, Crawford said: “This is a moment for unity. I support a school-led approach to reopening that protects health and safety while minimising further learning loss. Robust psychosocial support for our children, parents and educators must also be paired with reopening as they process the impact of Hurricane Melissa. We must not deny our children the opportunity of the classroom and the structure of our schools.”

They also acknowledge and deeply respect the concerns raised by some stakeholders regarding psychological and emotional well-being, the release added.

It said the ministry will continue to provide counselling services and psychosocial support to students and staff who need it. Any student or staff experiencing distress should seek help through their school or regional office.

Morris Dixon and Crawford also expressed gratitude to school boards, principals, teachers, guidance counsellors, ancillary staff and parents for their dedication during this period.