NET completes hurricane repairs at two schools

The National Education Trust (NET) has completed restoration works at Bamboo Primary School in St Ann and Pepper Primary School in St Elizabeth, restoring facilities damaged by Hurricane Melissa and improving conditions for students and staff.

At Bamboo Primary, where approximately 430 students were affected by hurricane damage, the project included repairs to classrooms, the kitchen, canteen and restroom facilities.

Principal Tricia Scarlett-Cameron said the damage had severely disrupted the school’s lunch programme.

“We are grateful to the NET for coming on board. After the hurricane, our facilities were so badly damaged that we had to suspend our lunch operations at the school. Our students were greatly impacted. Now that NET has restored our kitchen facility, we are able to provide lunch for our students again,” she said.

The upgraded kitchen has also been welcomed by staff.

“Yeah man, we love it. We love this brand new kitchen. It is better than before,” said cook Paulette Kelly.

Meanwhile, at Pepper Primary School, NET provided a new container to serve as the school’s tuck shop after the previous structure was destroyed during the hurricane. The project also included paving works and the construction of a covered walkway to improve access and provide shelter from inclement weather.

The improvements will benefit about 245 students and staff.

Principal Winsome Dennis-Moxam recalled the challenges the school faced after the storm.

“After Hurricane Melissa, our school suffered great damage. We had worked so hard to procure a container, and then the hurricane came and destroyed all the panels. We did not know what to do. It felt like starting all over again, like we were taking some steps forward and several steps back. We felt very defeated,” she said.

“NET came on board and provided a brand new container, which is now being used as our tuck shop. This area has added value to our school. I can wholeheartedly say that NET is working. We are proof of NET working in Jamaica,” Dennis-Moxam added.

NET Executive Director Latoya Harris-Ghartey said restoring essential facilities was a critical part of helping schools recover from natural disasters.

“When a school is affected by a disaster, the impact extends beyond the physical damage to the buildings. It affects teaching and learning, school operations, and the daily experiences of our students. Our work at Bamboo Primary and Pepper Primary is about addressing those practical needs, restoring essential facilities and helping both schools to provide more functional environments for their students and staff,” she said.