More school mergers coming

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has signalled that more underpopulated schools could be consolidated or left off the Government’s reconstruction list, arguing that Jamaica cannot continue maintaining costly education facilities with too few students to fill them.

Speaking during Tuesday’s official launch of the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee (JAMRROC) at Jamaica House in Kingston, Holness stressed the rebuilding of Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa would not simply mean restoring every damaged asset to its previous form.

He said some infrastructure would be rebuilt differently, some would be relocated, and some assets would not be rebuilt at all — a position he linked directly to the Government’s plans to consolidate parts of the education system.