Dear Editor,

As we bring the holiday season to a close and welcome the new year, schools across the island are poised to reopen, giving students the chance to resume their education after recent disruptions.

While many children appear to have adjusted in the aftermath of the hurricane, for a significant number of families the psychological, emotional, and social effects remain deeply felt, affecting students’ readiness to learn and engage meaningfully in school life.

The reopening of schools, therefore, must not be treated as a routine return to business as usual. A smooth and effective transition demands comprehensive, strategic, and compassionate planning that acknowledges the varied realities students now face. School administrators, boards of management, and leadership teams must adopt deliberate recovery strategies aimed not merely at regaining lost instructional time but at restoring quality learning and student well-being.

Several key considerations should guide this process:

1) Revising the teaching and learning programme: Resuming classes on January 5 without curricular adjustments is unlikely to yield positive outcomes. Schools should instead implement targeted teaching plans that prioritise core subject areas such as mathematics, English language, science, and social studies.

2) Adapting assessment practices: While many schools postponed end-of-term examinations, there is growing concern about plans to assess students in January using last year’s curriculum. This approach risks increasing anxiety and unfairly penalising students affected by disruption. Alternative assessment strategies should be embraced.

3) Implementing revised and flexible timetables: Revised timetables, particularly block scheduling for core subjects, can significantly enhance instructional effectiveness.

4) Promoting and supporting extra instructional programmes: Many dedicated teachers have already begun offering extra lessons to support students. These efforts should be formally recognised, encouraged, and fairly compensated.

Ultimately, the goal of reopening schools must extend beyond simply “catching up” on missed content. Education at this moment calls for a collective, student-centred approach that prioritises resilience, critical thinking, collaboration, and emotional well-being. Schools must create spaces for dialogue, inquiry, and meaningful teacher-student engagement, ensuring that learning remains relevant and empowering.

Ricardo Smith

Senior educator and social scientist

ricardo.professional.edu@gmail.com