MONTEGO BAY, St James — The Government has indicated that its rebuilding programme following Hurricane Melissa will result in expanded early childhood infrastructure, including new infant departments at primary schools that have the capacity to accommodate them.

“While Hurricane Melissa brought catastrophe in the country — especially in the western region — and significantly impacted many of our schools, one good that will come from our rebuilding efforts is that for every one of our primary schools that has the space to accommodate infant departments, those will be constructed there,” junior minister in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Rhoda Moy Crawford told the 7th Annual Professional Development Institute hosted by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) at Montego Bay Convention Centre on Monday.

Crawford also pointed to efforts to strengthen the island’s brain builder centres, describing them as part of the Government’s wider strategy to improve early stimulation and foundational learning.