KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Lasonja Harrison, is raising concerns about the quality of temporary classrooms as the country continues to grapple with increased temperatures, forcing some teachers to take lessons outdoors.

Harrison, who was reacting to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ recent comments that learning does not have to be confined to four walls as reconstruction continues at schools affected by Hurricane Melissa, questioned the government’s plan to retrofit Jamaican classrooms to reduce discomfort for teachers and students.

“What is the plan of action to retrofit Jamaican classrooms to reduce the discomfort that students and teachers alike are experiencing in this heat and the furnace-like conditions of some of our classrooms? In this case, no classroom is present and it raises another conversation about the quality of the temporary structures that are being erected,” Harrison said.

Additionally, Harrison said the prime minister’s comments underscore the ongoing challenges schools have been facing for decades.

“The classrooms, or lack thereof, remain hot, and it raises for me again a national conversation. What kind of education system do we want for the children of this nation? Now there has been much talk also about the changes in climate. And so if it was hot then, based on the forecast and all the predictions internationally and locally, things will become hotter. Then where is the plan?” she questioned.

The JTA president is now calling on corporate Jamaica to partner with schools by donating fans to temporary classrooms.

(Video: Garfield Robinson)