Better outside?

WHILE students at some hurricane-damaged schools are being forced into tents and under trees because classrooms remain unusable, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has argued that cooler outdoor environments can sometimes provide a setting more supportive of learning than some of the “unbearably hot” classrooms.

Speaking during Tuesday’s official launch of the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee (JAMRROC) at Jamaica House in Kingston, Holness acknowledged the difficulties facing schools as the education system continues its recovery from Hurricane Melissa, while noting that more than 300 schools remain on the Government’s repair roster.

He said significant progress had been made despite the challenges associated with procurement, contracting and weather, and described the reopening of the school year as successful.