La Sonja Harrison has returned to the helm of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), following her installation as president during the JTA’s 62nd annual conference held for three days at Ocean Coral Springs in Trelawny.
Among her concerns is the state of schools in Western Jamaica, which were damaged during the passage of hurricane Melissa.
“How much of the $1.4 billion received from the hurricane relief monies has been channelled to education to help restore our schools? We hear you, Minister, that some $5.6 billion of the overall $18 billion — that is approximately 31 per cent — has been allocated to some 60 schools in regions three and five alone. That is approximately $93 million if the sum were to be divided equally. The question remains: How many other schools of the 600-plus institutions that reported damage from Hurricane Melissa have not yet begun any form of repairs?” she asked.
The new academic school year is less than a few weeks away and several schools are still under repairs.
“If 60 schools have eaten away 31 per cent of the $18 billion, will the remaining 69 per cent be adequate to repair the some 530-plus schools left?” asked Harrison.
The new JTA president insisted that the tents under which students and teachers had operated during the last academic term cannot be carried over into the new school year.
