Minister hails school leaders

Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon has lauded the leadership and staff of schools severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa, noting that they have shown resilience in the face of significant damage and loss.

"They are not just sitting down and that is why I say we have some of the best principals you can find anywhere in the world, the best teachers and best board chairs that you can find. They are here and they are trying to see what they can do," she said.

Morris Dixon was speaking during a visit to the St Elizabeth Technical High School on Sunday to get a first-hand look at the damage to the institution. The school suffered significant damage to classrooms, the school farm and greenhouse, the principal and teachers' cottages and the track and field athletes' dorms. A section of the perimeter wall has also broken away. Morris Dixon noted that the priority is to get students back into the classrooms as soon as possible.

Morris Dixon also visited the Manchester-based Holmwood Technical High School on Sunday, where staff were engaged in clean-up and restoration activities.

"I know they don't have electricity at home. Many of them don't have water at home, and they're here on this Sunday morning helping to put the school back together so that they can have students come in as soon as they can," she noted.

Principal Hidran McKulsky reported that there was significant damage to classrooms, dormitories, farm and rainwater harvesting system.

"What we are trying to do is to have the dormitory temporarily restored so that we can have our students return to campus where we can provide for them and take the burden off the parents and the families," he said.