TRELAWNY, Jamaica —The National Education Trust (NET) has completed rehabilitation works at Troy High School and undertaken roofing repairs at Cedric Titus High School following damage sustained during Hurricane Melissa.

In a release, NET said it recently visited both schools in Trelawny to review the progress and impact of the rehabilitation works, assess completed interventions, engage with school leadership and review ongoing infrastructure needs as the institutions continue their recovery.

The interventions form part of NET’s ongoing response to damage sustained by schools across the island, with a focus on restoring critical infrastructure and creating environments better equipped to withstand adverse weather conditions while supporting teaching, learning and student development.

At Troy High, NET supported the re-fencing of the school perimeter, installation of gutters across the school’s seven blocks and reinstallation of the middle basketball court.

The organisation also supported the reinstallation of classroom divider partitions and replacement of a window damaged during Hurricane Melissa.

Principal of Troy High School Eddie Whyte welcomed the intervention, noting its positive impact on the school community.

“Following the passage of the hurricane, which ravaged our country, Troy High School was among the institutions impacted. Thanks to the intervention of the National Education Trust, we have had our perimeter fencing completely restored and our basketball courts rehabilitated for the benefit of our students. Our windows and classroom partitions have also been replaced, allowing us to have fully functional classrooms for our students, while gutters have been installed across all seven blocks,” he said.

“On behalf of all our stakeholders, we want to say a big thank you to the National Education Trust for coming on board and supporting us during our time of crisis. The restoration work is now benefiting the entire school community, and we are truly grateful for the support,” he added.

At Cedric Titus High, NET undertook critical roofing rehabilitation works to address damage sustained during the hurricane.

The damaged roofing structure was removed and replaced with a new waterproof and upgraded roofing membrane designed to provide greater protection against adverse weather conditions.

Principal Joan Higgins expressed gratitude for what she described as a welcomed and timely intervention by NET, which addressed urgent issues affecting the school that were further exacerbated by Hurricane Melissa.

“Prior to the passage of Hurricane Melissa, we were already experiencing some serious issues with leaking, which were further worsened by the hurricane. I want to express our sincere thanks to the National Education Trust for the urgent repairs that were undertaken to address these issues. The intervention has made a significant difference to the school, and we are very grateful for the support provided,” she said.

NET Executive Director Latoya Harris-Ghartey said restoring school infrastructure was important to addressing immediate needs while strengthening resilience for the future.

“When we invest in our schools, we are investing in the students, teachers and communities that depend on these spaces every day. The interventions at Troy High and Cedric Titus High demonstrate the importance of responding to infrastructure needs while also looking ahead to how we can strengthen our schools against future challenges. Our goal is to help schools recover, rebuild and return to providing safe, functional and supportive environments for teaching and learning,” she said.

She added: “At Cedric Titus High, the installation of the upgraded waterproof roofing membrane will provide an added layer of protection against adverse weather and strengthen the school’s resilience. At Troy High, restoring the school compound, basketball court and classroom spaces helps to ensure that students have access to an environment that supports both their academic and extracurricular development. These interventions reflect our shared commitment to providing structurally sound and safe infrastructure for our children.”

NET said its visits to the two schools also provided an opportunity to assess the impact of completed works and identify ongoing infrastructure needs.

The organisation said it continues to mobilise resources and strengthen partnerships to support schools across Jamaica, with efforts aimed at restoring critical infrastructure, improving resilience and ensuring students and teachers can learn and work in safe, functional and conducive environments.