THE Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has expressed concern over what it says is the deplorable and hazardous conditions under which students and teachers in sections of western Jamaica continue to teach and learn, eight months after the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

According to the JTA, last week its team, accompanied by colleagues from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), visited schools across Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, and St James, and what was observed was deeply troubling.

“Students and teachers remain confined to cramped tents that are unbearably hot, poorly ventilated, and wholly unfit for meaningful teaching and learning. In a few spaces mould was observed, posing a potential threat to the health, well-being, and safety of students and staff,” said the JTA.

“Quite frankly, some of the conditions witnessed were appalling and represented an egregious failure to provide safe and suitable learning and working environments for students and teachers. Such conditions are entirely inconsistent with what should be considered acceptable standards for teaching and learning,” added the JTA.

The teachers group said it acknowledges that Hurricane Melissa was a catastrophic Category 5 weather event that left a significant trail of destruction across sections of the island, recognises the enormity of the recovery effort, and appreciates the challenges associated with restoring damaged infrastructure.

“However, eight months after the passage of the hurricane these challenges can no longer serve as a justification for students and teachers being subjected to conditions that are unsafe, undignified, and inimical to effective teaching and learning.

“The passage of time demands a far greater sense of urgency and responsiveness from the relevant authorities. The JTA is equally alarmed by the painfully slow pace of repairs. In many instances, construction activities appear to be progressing at a rate that gives little confidence that these school plants will be ready for the commencement of the new academic year.

“This concern is further compounded by the fact that Jamaica is now in another hurricane season, yet critical repairs remain incomplete, raising serious questions about the resilience of the education system and its ability to withstand another significant weather event,” said the association in a media release.

The JTA said it has written to the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information for a second time, “once again highlighting these serious concerns and demanding that urgent and decisive measures be implemented to alleviate the unacceptable learning and working conditions currently being endured by students, teachers and school leaders.

“The association maintains that no child should be expected to learn, nor any teacher expected to work, in conditions that compromise health, dignity, safety and educational outcomes. Eight months after the passage of Hurricane Melissa it is unacceptable that members of the school community continue to bear the burden of delayed recovery efforts, the release continued.”