ST ANN, Jamaica — The National Education Trust (NET) has stepped up restoration efforts at schools in St Ann, helping damaged institutions rebuild and restore normality.

The trust, an agency of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, recently visited Bamboo Primary School and Marcus Garvey Technical High School, both of which sustained significant infrastructural damage during the storm. Several classrooms were affected and roofs were torn off, disrupting teaching and learning.

At Bamboo Primary, Acting Vice Principal Tricia Scarlett-Cameron welcomed the progress and expressed sincere appreciation for the swift intervention and ongoing construction works.

“Due to Hurricane Melissa, the school experienced extensive damage. However, the construction team is now on site, and the roofing works have been completed to a high standard. The new roofs are well done and truly impressive. I look forward to the completion of the building, as I know our students will soon return to classrooms that are conducive to learning. We are grateful to the National Education Trust and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information for helping us to rebuild our school,” Scarlett-Cameron said.

Acting Principal Richard Williams of Marcus Garvey Technical High School highlighted the severity of the damage, with multiple classrooms impacted. He thanked NET and the ministry for their support in rehabilitating critical areas needed for students.

“We are deeply grateful to the National Education Trust and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information for coming on board to assist us in rehabilitating these critical areas, which are urgently needed for our students,” Williams said.

NET Executive Director Latoya Harris-Ghartey reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting affected schools across the island, emphasising that restoration efforts go beyond infrastructure to rebuilding stability, confidence and hope within school communities.

“At NET, we recognise that schools are more than physical structures; they are spaces of opportunity, development and transformation. Our restoration efforts at the Bamboo Primary School and the Marcus Garvey Technical High School are focused not only on rebuilding infrastructure, but on restoring stability, confidence and hope for every student and educator,” Harris-Ghartey said.