JTA president blasts slow pace of $24.8b school repair programme

With just weeks before the new school year begins, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is accusing the Ministry of Education of moving too slowly to restore hurricane-damaged schools, warning that some students could return to unsafe classrooms.

JTA President Mark Malabver said the ministry has been "dragging their feet" in overseeing repairs to schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, arguing that the slow pace threatens the September reopening.

Malabver pointed to the National Education Trust's (NET) admission that it is short of at least 40 building inspectors needed to properly monitor the $24.8-billion rehabilitation programme.

"I am wondering why at this point, if you are short of 40 inspectors, why did you not take the necessary steps to have these inspectors in place?" Malabver questioned, suggesting that engineering students from the University of Technology could have been recruited to help fill the gap.

Speaking to The STAR, NET Executive Director Latoya Harris Ghartey acknowledged the shortage, saying the agency is urgently trying to recruit 15 inspectors as an immediate measure but will ultimately need many more.

The JTA said a tour of schools across western Jamaica in June revealed little evidence of the level of work expected if repairs are to be completed before schools reopen.

According to the association, while some contractors had mobilised, many schools showed limited construction activity, inconsistent progress and little indication that deadlines would be met.

"Clearly, they should have taken necessary steps to exert pressure on the contractors to get the job done," Malabver said.

"Clearly, they have dragged their feet in terms of putting the right framework in place to hold the contractors accountable."

He warned that reopening some schools in their current condition could breach international occupational health and safety standards as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon has already acknowledged that not all school repairs will be completed by September 6, although she said she remains encouraged by the progress made so far.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar, or on Whatsapp @ 876-550-2506.