SCHOOL UPDATES AS OF JANUARY 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.

Clifford Basic                                                                                                                           St. Ann

• The 6 missing zinc panels over the veranda have been replaced and the roof leaks have been repaired.
• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.
• We are happy to report that Clifford Basic school has been restored to pre hurricane status.

Bybrook Basic                                                                                                                 St. Catherine

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.
• We are happy to report that Bybrook Basic school has been restored to pre hurricane status.

Jubilee Town Primary                                                                                                    St. Catherine

• Classes and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All utilities have been restored.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.
• We are happy to report that Jubilee Town Primary school has been restored to pre hurricane status

Nutshell Basic                                                                                                                 St. Catherine

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.
• The fallen trees have been removed but the perimeter fencing is still in need of repair.

Berry Hill Primary & Infant                                                                                         St. Catherine

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• The majority of students have returned to school
• They are continuing their outreach efforts to ensure 100% attendance to pre hurricane levels
• The school is waiting on an action plan from the Ministry of Education to repair the leaking roof and electrical issues.
• A new water pump is being procured for the school

Ewarton Basic                                                                                                                 St. Catherine

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school including 5 new students
• The leaking roof and the steps leading to the school damaged by flood waters have yet to be repaired.

Elim Early Childhood Development Center                                                            St. Catherine

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school including a few additional new students due to migration
• The leaking roof and the damaged column in the kitchen area have yet to be repaired.

Linstead Primary & Junior High                                                                                 St. Catherine

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• The majority of students have returned to school.
• The hurricane caused the collapse of a partition in one of the classrooms and damage to the ceiling over the reading room and computer room.
• A representative of the Ministry of Education visited the school but has not provided a timeline for repairs.

Baxter’s Mountain Primary                                                                                                  St. Mary

• The school lost its entire roof due to the hurricane.
• Unfortunately, the Minister of Education (MOE) representative surveyed the site and determined the roof cannot be repaired as the entire building structure is compromised.
• It was discovered that termites have eaten the boards that form the foundation requiring the need for an entirely new building.
• The school has yet to receive a timeline from the MOE for this project.
• In the interim, tarps and canvas have been utilized to create a temporary roof over the school.
  • UNICEF recently delivered a large tent that will be used for classrooms once construction on the new building begins.
• Classes and the breakfast program have resumed.
• Electricity has been restored but water must be trucked in and stored in large tanks.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.

Belfield Primary                                                                                                                     St. Mary

• The leaking roof over the classrooms has been repaired but more extensive work will need to be done regarding the outer section of the canteen.
• The Ministry of Education has not provided a timeline for the canteen repair
• Water tanks have been replaced/repaired.
• All utilities have been restored.
• The school is in full operation, including the breakfast program.
• All students and teachers have returned to pre hurricane levels.

Jeffrey Town Basic                                                                                                                  St. Mary

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.
• The roof of the outdoor shed is still in need of repair

Rose Hall Primary & Infant                                                                                           St. Elizabeth

• The low hanging electrical wires over the school compound have been removed.
• Electricity has been restored but rainwater must still be collected and treated for use.
• The playfield fence damaged by the hurricane has been repaired but the perimeter fencing is still in need of repair.
• The severely damaged road leading to the school has been temporarily fixed but may not withstand the next flood.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.

Frankfield Primary & Infant                                                                                         Manchester

• For the most part, utilities have been restored.
• Reliable electricity is needed to pump the water to the restrooms and kitchen.
• Due to unpredictable and low voltage electricity a gas generator is being procured for the school.
  • There has been a substantial shortage of generators since the hurricane coupled with price gouging for those that are available.
  • Prices and availability have recently improved and the school should have a gas generator in the near future.
• The two damaged 1,000-gallon water drums have been repaired.
• Two damaged windows have been replaced.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.

Victoria Town Primary & Infant                                                                                   Manchester

• All utilities have been restored.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All students and teachers have returned to the school.
• The hurricane destroyed the school’s solar generator and solar panels.
  • It has been impossible to locate a replacement solar generator on the island.
  • Due to unpredictable and low voltage electricity a gas generator is being procured for the school.

Kentucky Primary & Infant                                                                                     Westmoreland

• 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
• The school is still lacking all utilities.
• A gas generator is being procured for the school.
• There is no potable water, so they harvest rainwater.
• Due to the lack of electricity, they are unable to use the pump to provide running water.
• Full-time classroom instruction and the breakfast program have resumed.
• All teachers and all but 2 students have returned.
  • The 2 students not returning were displaced and had to relocate.

Bluefields Basic                                                                                                           Westmoreland

• Bluefields Basic was one of the hardest hit schools located in a community that was completely devastated by the hurricane.
• Many families were rendered homeless.
• The walls of the school are intact, but the roof was destroyed, and the structure has been deemed uninhabitable.
  • Roof replacement is well underway, funded in part by a generous donation from the Ryze Party sales team associates, and should be fully in place within 4-6 weeks.
• All windows and doors need to be replaced
• None of the utilities have been restored.
• The school is in dire need of a replacement solar generator but there are currently none available on the island.
  • The search for a solar generator will continue.
  • The school has expressed they have no interest in a gas generator and will wait until a solar product can be procured.
  • Once a solar generator is acquired they will also need 6 large solar panels and to replace the solar water pumping system including pipelines for potable water.
• They are in need of 2 – 1,000 gallon water drums to replace those destroyed by the hurricane
• They have been unable to resume classes or the breakfast program.
• In the interim, the teachers are visiting student’s homes and engaging the children with printed materials, workbooks and other activities.
• All teachers and students are accounted for, with the exception of one child that migrated to the US since the hurricane.

For prior updates, please click here.