SCHOOL UPDATES AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2026

On behalf of Jamaica YES and more importantly the school children of Jamaica, thank you for your generous support of the Melissa Hurricane Relief Fund.  Your donations are being utilized to specifically target returning schools back to pre-hurricane status.  Jamaica YES maintains ongoing communication with school principals to stay informed about needs, set priorities, and ensure funds are allocated for maximum impact.  Although recovery depends on various factors, we are focused on helping schools rebuild and move forward as expeditiously as possible.

In Jamaica all “Primary” schools are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education (MOE).  No repair/recovery actions can be independently pursued without the express approval of the MOE.  Oversight by the MOE requires they assign a project manager and select all contractors performing work on the identified project at each school.  Given the magnitude of devastation caused by hurricane Melissa the recovery of our schools to full operation requiring MOE oversight will take longer than expected.

The map below shows the approximate impacted areas of the hurricane.  Red stars on the map indicate the locations of the 16 Basic and Primary schools Jamaica YES support. (Click on the map to enlarge)

For additional photos and videos submitted by schools, click here.

Berry Hill Primary & Infant School (St. Catherine Parish)

• Hurricane Melissa flooded the pump house, damaging the pump used to provide water to the school.
• There was no water available for the restrooms or kitchen.
  • Your donations to the relief fund were used to provide the school with a new HYDROFRESH Waterpump System.
  • Although there are still some issues with a leaking roof which can only be addressed by the Ministry of Education, the school is now fully functional. 

Bluefields Basic School (Westmoreland Parish)

• Bluefields Basic School was one of the hardest hit schools located in a community that was completely devastated by the hurricane leaving many families homeless.
• The school itself lost its entire roof and was determined to be uninhabitable. 
• Until the school is once again operational, the teachers have been visiting the students at their homes providing assignments, workbooks and reading material.
• In partnership with the sales associates of U.S. based Ryze Party, we were able to provide funds utilized to:
  • Install cement decking for the new roof,
  • Replace all doors and windows,
  • Install fans in all the classrooms and
  • Partially fund replacement of the solar generator system.

Kentucky Primary School (Westmoreland Parish)

• The roof of the school was destroyed by the hurricane.
• There have been no current updates from the Ministry of Education regarding reroofing and refurbishing of the building.
• Plastic tarps are being utilized to provide shade and shelter
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• The hurricane destroyed many students’ textbooks, and parents are unable to replace them. Your donations have funded a new generator used to:
  • Print worksheets and training material for the students
  • Power projectors used in the makeshift classrooms to display lessons on the wall
  • Enable Starlink internet service in an area lacking connectivity

Victoria Town Primary School (Manchester Parish)

• The hurricane destroyed the school’s solar generator and solar panels.
  • Your donations have provided funds for a gas-powered generator that the school will use until their solar powered system is replaced by the Ministry of Education.

Frankfield Primary & Infant School (Manchester Parish)

• Local utilities remain unpredictable
• Reliable electricity is needed to pump water to the restrooms and kitchen.
  • Your donations have provided funds for a gas-powered generator that will ensure the school has adequate service
  • until normal utilities are restored.

For prior school updates, please click here.