Hot classroom tent abandoned at Holland Primary Students, teachers turn to trees for shade

HOLLAND, St Elizabeth — Scorching heat and poor ventilation under a tent being used as a classroom for second and third graders on Monday drove some Holland Primary School teachers and students to seek relief in the shade provided by a mango tree and a structure made of bamboo.

“It is very hot. We attempted using [the tent] this morning, but the heat got the better of us, so [the students and teachers] had to flee. We have been utilising the available trees that we have on the compound now,” Principal Simone Doctor told the Jamaica Observer on Monday as the first day of the new academic year got under way.

“We got a double tent and we had expected it to host two classrooms today, so we attempted that, but not even one classroom is in here because of the heat,” she added.