The Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has announced it will waive academic and attendance requirements for schools from western Jamaica which will participate in competitions they organise for this Easter Term.

School infrastructure was among the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa across most of western Jamaica in October and caused disruption in attendance, with some schools not being able to resume full capacity until January.

Schools in the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St James, Hanover, and Trelawny were affected, and as a result, preparation for the restart of senior boys’ football, basketball, and netball tournaments was affected, as well as early-season track and field competitions.

Students are required to have minimum standards in academics and attendance from the term previous to their events, to be eligible to compete in ISSA-organised competitions.

The announcement came as a result of requests made by western schools, specifically for the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs), in a meeting held in December and chaired by Richard Thompson, chairman of the Champs organising committee.

“ISSA will be waiving the grades and attendance requirements for the Easter Term for these schools similarly impacted and who have been approved for concession by the Caribbean Examination Council,” ISSA said in a press release earlier this week.

Students are required to have an average of 45 per cent in any four subjects between grades eight and 11, and a minimum of four CAPE subjects for grades 12 and 13, as well as 80 per cent attendance.

Last year, 27 girls teams from western Jamaica and 25 boys’ teams participated at Champs.