Barclay

The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) wants schools damaged by Hurricane Dean to be repaired quickly so that teachers can get on with the business of teaching.

Hurricane Dean, which lashed the island on August 19, damaged some 350 schools and left the Government with a $700 million repair bill.

"Although there is a procurement process, we want the roofs repair to speed up," Ena Barclay, president of the JTA, told The Gleaner on Tuesday. Barclay said some schools were forced to put students on a shift system because of the shortage of space and that some students are not accustomed to this kind of situation.

Situation being monitored

"So even though schools have started, not everything is in place, so we are monitoring the situation," the JTA president said.

The ministry recently disbursed cheques to some primary and all-age schools which were damaged by the hurricane. However, it is still not clear how many schools have been repaired. When contacted Tuesday, the Ministry of Education's Director of Communications Charlene Ashley said her ministry did not have an update on damaged schools.

The machine and woodwork classroom of the Donald Quarrie High School in Harbour View, Kingston, a week after it was damaged during the August 19 passage of Hurricane Dean. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer