‘Where is the plan?’ JTA president raises concerns over quality of temporary classrooms

KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Lasonja Harrison, is raising concerns about the quality of temporary classrooms as the country continues to grapple with increased temperatures, forcing some teachers to take lessons outdoors.

Harrison, who was reacting to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ recent comments that learning does not have to be confined to four walls as reconstruction continues at schools affected by Hurricane Melissa, questioned the government’s plan to retrofit Jamaican classrooms to reduce discomfort for teachers and students.

“What is the plan of action to retrofit Jamaican classrooms to reduce the discomfort that students and teachers alike are experiencing in this heat and the furnace-like conditions of some of our classrooms? In this case, no classroom is present and it raises another conversation about the quality of the temporary structures that are being erected,” Harrison said.