The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) is advising school administrators to take proactive steps to safeguard the comfort and well-being of students as Jamaica continues to experience cooler-than-normal temperatures due to a strong cold front.

This unusual weather pattern has brought lower temperatures and gusty winds across the island, creating conditions that may affect students’ concentration and overall health.

Considering this, administrators are being encouraged to adopt measures that ensure children remain warm, safe, and comfortable throughout the school day.

A bulletin issued by the Ministry states that students should be allowed to wear jackets to school, whether or not they are part of the standard school uniform.

The Ministry emphasises that dress codes should be relaxed to accommodate appropriate outerwear, ensuring that all students, regardless of access to branded jackets, are adequately protected from the cold.

School leaders are also reminded to be attentive to children with existing health conditions that may be exacerbated by the colder weather.

Administrators are urged to remain observant and responsive to the needs of these students, ensuring they receive the necessary support to stay warm and healthy.

To further promote comfort, schools are encouraged to include warm beverages or soups in their lunch offerings.

These should be served at safe temperatures, providing both nourishment and relief from the chill.

Additionally, given the impact of the cold front, administrators are asked to allow more frequent bathroom breaks for students as needed.

The Ministry underscores that this period presents both a challenge and an opportunity to reaffirm the duty of care mandated by the Child Care and Protection Act.

School administrators are reminded of their responsibility to provide a nurturing and protective environment, approaching each child with the same love and consideration they would extend to their own.

The Ministry calls on all stakeholders to work together to create safe, warm, and inviting learning spaces where children can thrive, even in adverse weather conditions.

Procurement Director at the National Education Trust (NET), Suewayne Miller Bender, says the agency is partnering with qualified contractors to build back more resilient schools following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa.

More than 700 schools across the island sustained damage during the passage of the category-five hurricane last October.

Speaking at a recent public procurement engagement session, Mrs. Miller Bender pointed out that the Trust, which functions as both a registered charity and the primary infrastructure arm for the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, is now shifting gears from emergency response to long-term, resilient reconstruction.

She noted that a key component of this resilience strategy is the transition from traditional roofing to slab roofs and other reinforced structures.

“We’re looking to partner with our contractors to ensure that our schools are built better so we can actually give the children of Jamaica what they deserve,” Mrs. Miller Bender said, inviting grades one and two contractors to reach out to the entity.

“The main requirement for the Melissa recovery is that the [contracting entity] needs a structural engineer on their team to conduct the [structural assessment] exercise, because we are not just building back the schools, we’re building stronger, better resilient schools that can withstand these hurricanes if they should come again,” she pointed out.

Mrs. Miller Bender said that several contractors have already come forward but noted that challenges in the tender process have caused some project delays.

These include contractors having incomplete bid submissions and failing to submit Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC), provide details about the composition of their teams, present Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB) qualifications, among other things.

Mrs. Miller Bender said that NET also requires proof of the financial capability of the contracting firms, highlighting experiences “where contractors are not able to mobilise and start a project after the procuring entity would have awarded that contracting firm”.

She informed that the NET has placed a checklist at the front of its tender document to help contractors better prepare their submissions.

“So, [contractors] would have seen what the requirements are, what they need to submit to participate in the tender process to ensure that we do not have any holdup when we’re conducting our evaluation, going back out for clarification… because that is a further delay in our procurement process,” Mrs. Miller Bender stated.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has called for stronger child protection measures in Jamaica, urging systemic reform and public vigilance against abuse and neglect.

She was speaking during the Child Protection and Family Services Agency’s (CPFSA) 14th Annual Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony on Thursday (January 29) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

Senator Morris Dixon emphasised that while celebrating children in State care is vital, it must be matched by decisive policy action and shared responsibility.

She maintained that child protection is a national responsibility, extending beyond any single agency, as children face risks in multiple environments.

“A lot of our children are in harm’s way at home, in their communities, and everywhere that they go. It’s a reality… we’re not taking care of our children the way that they should be taken care of,” the Minister stated.

She highlighted the persistence of abuse in homes and communities, warning that a culture of silence enables it to continue unchecked.

“I know, especially in the home, there is a lot of abuse taking place… and there are a lot of people who are turning a blind eye to it. We cannot continue on this trajectory,” Senator Morris Dixon cautioned.

The Minister stressed that safeguarding children is a shared national duty, urging greater public vigilance and reporting.

“It rests with every single person in this country. If you see something that’s not right with a child, we can’t keep quiet. We have to report it,” she said.

Senator Morris Dixon underscored the severity of the issue, citing student testimonies and national research which reveal that many cases of abuse are often minimised or ignored.

The Minister noted that national studies validate these realities and urged an honest national dialogue.

Dr. Morris Dixon stressed that confronting uncomfortable truths is essential to achieving meaningful progress, adding “we have to confront them because we have to protect our children.”

Strengthening adoption, foster care and support for children with special needs has been identified as a national priority to ensure better outcomes for vulnerable children across Jamaica.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, emphasises the need to modernise Jamaica’s adoption framework in order to create more opportunities for children to transition into permanent and nurturing family environments.

“We keep talking about it, [but] we have not gotten there. We have to work on our adoption law,” she stated.

Senator Morris Dixon was speaking during the 14th Annual Educational Achievement Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), on Thursday (January 29) at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

She highlighted the need to streamline the adoption process to ensure that children can more efficiently transition into stable and supportive family environments, noting, “the process has to become much simpler, and it needs to be quicker.”

Regarding foster care, the Minister emphasised that children thrive best in family-based settings, and called for greater national participation, adding, “I really do believe that the best place for a child is in a home with family.”

Senator Morris Dixon further highlighted gaps in support for children with special needs, particularly during their transition into adulthood.

‘‘There are so many children with special needs. We are expanding our programmes in the Ministry, and we have to do more of that,” she said.

Emphasising inclusion and opportunity, she emphasised that, “they can contribute to this country”, adding “we must, therefore, put in place programmes that [facilitate] these children.”

Minister Morris Dixon stressed the importance of developing national frameworks that ensure every child, regardless of circumstance or ability, feels valued, supported, and fully included in society.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has announced that all schools resumed full operations as of January 14, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, in a Ministerial Statement to the Senate on Friday (January 23), providing an update on post‑Hurricane Melissa recovery.

“Within 90 days of the most devastating weather event in recent memory, a ‘one in 100 years’ storm, all schools resumed operations and all schools resumed teaching and learning,” she said.

Senator Morris Dixon informed that the Ministry has been deploying resources to the schools most in need. In partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), 92 heavy‑duty, classroom‑sized tents were donated to schools in western Jamaica.

“UNICEF will also be distributing around 300 learning kits in short order… some of our schools have already been able to utilise these. So, if your school is damaged, that ‘school in a box’ can be used anywhere… it has all of the learning devices that would be needed,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Minister stated that the development of learning kits is integral to sustaining student engagement, even when they are not physically present at school on a given day.

“All schools are operational but not all of them have been repaired, and so some schools are on a shift system. You have students coming in some days and not others, and so these learning kits are absolutely important for them to take home,” she stated.

Senator Morris Dixon informed that 4,552 modified curriculum guides, approximately 34,000 literacy and numeracy preparatory materials, and more than 43,000 learning workbooks are being distributed to students and teachers.

“We are targeting key transition years and examination cohorts so that students can consolidate foundational skills and stay on track despite the disruption,” she informed.

Meanwhile, the Minister noted that the World Food Programme (WFP) has also been a significant partner in supporting the education sector.

“They have been providing meal support to families and young children. Recently, they have extended mobile storage units to our damaged institutions to remove another barrier to their normal operations,” she said.

Dr. Morris Dixon further noted that the WFP has deployed a technical team on the ground, engaging with vulnerable communities and schools to identify priority institutions and assess the feasibility of restarting and strengthening the School Feeding Programme through emergency food solutions.

“As a part of the work of the World Food Programme, we are working with the Ministry of Agriculture [Fisheries and Mining] to look at how we can expand the number of school farms and greenhouses, and how we can make those more resilient, going forward. We are not just thinking about the physical structure. We are also looking at nutrition, and we feel that as we build in resilience, it’s important that our school farms and greenhouses are also resilient,” she stated.

Additionally, Senator Morris Dixon noted that, in terms of hard educational resources, the Ministry has procured more than 9,542 pieces of furniture, which are being delivered to outfit newly repaired and reopened classrooms. She added that 125 schools have already benefited from these deliveries.

“I was able to witness one of these deliveries when I visited a few weeks ago. I saw the relief and renewed confidence it brought to the staff and students, first-hand. I know the impact of these deliveries,” she said.

Some of the schools that have benefited include Accompong Primary and Top Hill Primary, St. Elizabeth; Mile Gully Primary and Harry Watch Primary, Manchester; Alderton Primary and Infant, and St Christopher’s School for the Deaf, St. Ann; Hague Primary, Trelawny; Herbert Morrison Technical High and Howard Cooke Primary, St. James; and Cave Valley Primary, Hanover.

Senator Morris Dixon further indicated that Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, together with the team at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), has been providing hundreds of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) toys to schools in western Jamaica.

She informed that more than 1,400 toys were handed over during Christmas and into the New Year.

“This has truly been an all-of-government effort. The OPM is supporting play-based learning, creativity, problem-solving, and early exposure to science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics, even as communities recover. We feel that it is important, and we have been emphasising play as a part of dealing with the psychosocial trauma for the children,” the Minister said.

Senator Morris Dixon further advised that the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) have been working with the Ministry and its team to prioritise schools for utilities restoration.

“Each week, the JPS meets with the Ministry and team, and through those meetings, the JPS has been able to identify the schools on the path and the route that they are now restoring and have prioritised our schools. I thank the JPS and the NWC for all of that work that they have done,” she said.

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on October 28, 2025, significantly disrupting several sectors, including the education sector, particularly in western Jamaica.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information has endorsed the staging of the Jamaica Association of Education Officers (JAEO) annual 5K Run/Walk, which will be held at the GC Foster College in St. Catherine on Sunday, February 1, starting at 6:00 a.m.

Members of the public are being invited to participate in this year’s event, which is dedicated to supporting the Hurricane Melissa recovery process and advancing the Association’s Adopt-a-School initiative.

According to a bulletin issued by the Ministry, the Run/Walk also seeks to promote wellness, physical activity, and preventive health practices among participants.

The document noted that persons taking part will benefit from hydration stations strategically placed along the route, official medals, post-race refreshments, and entertainment.

Awards will be presented for outstanding performances, and participants will also enjoy a complimentary massage following the Run/Walk.

Participants are encouraged to register for the event using the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDbzOrfX9ezKEUI2l8rWB4OtAZlcIeSx3w68EsnsMMxOS0EA/viewform?usp=header.

For further information, persons may call (876) 433-8516 or (876) 315-1666 or make contact via email [email protected].

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, has announced that Cabinet will determine the course of action in reforming the Access to Information (ATI) Act.

He made the disclosure while delivering remarks at a public forum on ‘Enhancing Transparency: Examining the Access to Information Act and its Reform’, organised by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (January 21).

Senator Morgan shared that while work on reforming the 2002 legislation was previously conducted by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament in 2011, the Ministry is now at a critical juncture to refresh those findings.

“While recommendations emerged from that [Joint Select Committee], we have also had the passage of time. The first indication the Ministry is seeking to give is that that matter of reforming the Access to Information Act is a determination that Cabinet is going to make as it relates to how we’re approaching it,” he said.

Senator Morgan noted that due to the extended passage of time, certain recommendations from the 2011 report may have become outdated, requiring refinement to align with recent global developments.

“This is a critical juncture… to effect a review, and the Ministry, at this time, is far advanced in relation to its review and consideration of the various exhortations – in some instances the various comments and the various position papers, including [from] the JFJ,” the Parliamentary Secretary said.

He added that the Ministry’s review will build on the recommendations from the 2011 Joint Select Committee report, with the aim of addressing the identified implementation challenges.

The Senator emphasised that the review is particularly timely, given the passing of the Data Protection Act by Government in 2020, which became fully effective in 2023.

“Based on the passage of time, the dynamism… of the ATI regime globally, and the newly introduced Data Protection regime, as well as international developments in terms of best practices pertaining to ATI reform, it is an opportune time to revisit the access to information framework to ensure it works effectively, fairly and transparently to protect citizens’ right to information, and strengthen governance,” he said.

In the meantime, Senator Morgan stated that the Access to Information Unit is set to intensify its operational improvements during fiscal year 2026/27.

He highlighted that ongoing training will be provided to officers to reduce backlogs, improve proactive disclosures, and make online information more useful. The training will also focus on implementing best practices from the requester’s perspective, deploying technology to streamline ATI processing, and enhancing service excellence in the delivery of access to information.

“As stakeholders can appreciate and agree, building institutional capacity and continuing to sensitise ATI responsible officers are critical and indispensable in building the culture we envisage… a culture where ATI is taken seriously, not just in talk, but… in action,” Senator Morgan stated.

To further improve stakeholder satisfaction and ensure public education on the ATI Act, he outlined several initiatives that the ATI Unit plans to implement.

These include continued education and engagement with the public through various media, community and school initiatives; launching a new ATI website in 2026; creating an online space for ATI stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing, which will go live by the end of March; and developing an ATI institutional report card framework to measure performance against certain metrics.

Additionally, during the first quarter of 2026, the ATI Unit will finalise the draft for the Access to Information Act Advisory Committee framework.

This outline will be submitted to Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, for approval and is intended to facilitate ongoing engagement between the Government and civil society stakeholders on ATI reforms and operational issues.

Senator Morgan reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ATI reform, to not only strengthen the legal framework, but also improve access to information by increasing transparency, good governance, governmental accountability, and public participation in national decision-making.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as full citizens, with equal rights to access, participation and opportunity.

“You can see our commitment in how we have been approaching post-Hurricane Melissa recovery,” she said during the official handover ceremony for the HEART/NSTA Trust’s Region I National Development Project at the Jamaica Society for the Blind in Kingston on January 15.

Dr. Morris Dixon noted that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), launched a cash assistance programme in December 2025 to support vulnerable persons affected by the hurricane, including individuals with disabilities.

“They have been targeting those who need assistance the most. They have been prioritising households that have suffered near total damage or total loss, and in addition to that, there is a special focus on key vulnerabilities… and that’s children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. So, in our Hurricane Melissa response, persons living with disabilities have been a focus,” she stated.

The Minister noted that Jamaica’s partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has prioritised vulnerable groups, particularly through the implementation of an emergency multipurpose cash top‑up designed to support households with children.

“With the UNICEF, through the support of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), we have a digital voucher mechanism that’s embedded in the ‘I Am Able’ app, and that’s designed to reach children with disabilities and their families,” she explained.

Regarding rebuilding efforts in western Jamaica, Senator Morris Dixon emphasised that special attention is being given to assisting the most vulnerable, including persons living with disabilities.

Meanwhile, she noted that within the education sector, the Government continues to strengthen systems designed to support learners with disabilities.

“As a Ministry, we want to make sure every child receives the support through appropriate assessments, learning accommodations, and the tools that will allow them to engage meaningfully and confidently with their studies,” Senator Morris Dixon maintained.

She emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Government is inclusive in every aspect of the education system, noting that access to justice is another key area of focus.

“The Government is ensuring that all our clerks in the courts are trained in sign language. We are also working to put many more of our services and our documents in Braille to make it easier for persons who are blind or visually impaired,” Minister Morris Dixon shared.

She added that the Government has also implemented tax exemptions to support persons with disabilities.

“Employed individuals registered with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities are reminded that they are eligible to apply for an income tax exemption. Section 12 (Y) of the Income Tax Act provides an exemption on emoluments of individuals with permanent physical or mental disabilities who are, nonetheless, capable of gainful employment,” Senator Morris Dixon outlined.

The establishment of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) exemplary lab is in progress at Bustamante High School in Clarendon, at a cost of $15 million.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe, made the disclosure at the official handover of computer labs at the Bustamante High School on Thursday, January 15.

“[Bustamante High] is one of the schools selected to get a TVET exemplary lab. We have invested $7.5 million already and we have another $7.5 million to complete the lab within this academic year,” she said.

Dr. Troupe explained that this is being pursued under the Ministry’s TVET expansion programme.

“We are also expanding technical and vocational education in our schools. We have a broader programme, which we call our TVET expansion programme. Bustamante High School has been selected to get a 21st century agriculture lab. They do the programme here but we want to bring them into 21st century skills in terms of how the smart room is connected, how they are going to use the technology in this room, in the field, how they are going to set up drones to do the watering, so they do not have to be physically there. That is the kind of thinking and exposure we are bringing to them,” she said.

The TVET expansion programme involves strategically investing in skills development by upgrading facilities, integrating modern technology, expanding course offerings in high schools and partnering with industry to create a workforce ready for 21st century jobs, ensuring relevance and promoting economic growth through practical industry-aligned training.

In addition, the Ministry of Education has made further commitments to fund the construction of security fencing around the school. The value of the project is $147 million.

“[This is to] ensure that the environment is safe and secure for the learners and the staff and also the property and equipment that we are investing in,” Dr. Troupe said.

The Permanent Secretary added that the Ministry is also assisting in funding the completion of two classrooms at the school.

“We are also going to be building out some classrooms. They have started work on two classrooms and the school is unable to continue resourcing that project. We have incorporated that in our 2026/27 budget space and our maintenance programme. The Ministry of Education’s region along with the technical officers will be leading that project and I have approved $15 million to complete that project, so the children can have more space,” she said.

Nearly two years after a fire severely damaged two Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories at Bustamante High School, the Clarendon-based institution is the beneficiary of modern facilities through public-private collaboration.

The restoration and expansion project was done at a cost of $20 million by the Universal Service Fund (USF) in partnership with e-Learning Jamaica Company (e-LJam) Limited, the Flow Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

It involved infrastructure repairs, provision of upgraded equipment and enhanced learning tools designed to strengthen digital literacy, youth empowerment, and provide equitable access to technology.

As the lead implementing agency, the USF undertook the renovation of the labs, provided funding and overall project management, and deployed ICT resources, including connectivity devices.

The Flow Foundation contributed desks to accommodate 93 students and teachers, while e-LJam outfitted the labs with almost 100 laptops, three smart boards, and classroom chairs, ensuring that the spaces are fully equipped for modern teaching and learning.

Chief Executive Officer of the USF, Charlton McFarlane, in a message read by Corporate Planner, Nepatra Bennett, during Thursday’s (Jan. 15) official handover of the facilities, said that the project is in keeping with the agency’s mandate to promote the use of technology for economic and social development.

“It is what drives our broader mission to ensure that all Jamaicans, especially our young people, can access the tools and connectivity needed to participate fully in national development. Through collaboration with the Flow Foundation and e-Learing Jamaica, we committed to restoring and enhancing these facilities not simply to replace what was lost, but to build back stronger and smarter. The renovation of these computer labs …represents an investment in human potential,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of e-LJam, Andrew Lee, said that the technology provided will advance the teaching and learning processes at the institution.

“We are trying to build a technology-based economy and a technology-based country, and this is the foundation. Having the technology within our schools enables us to move towards that knowledge-based country,” he pointed out.

Principal of Bustamante High School, Wayne Evans, told JIS News that the entire school community is grateful for the investment, which he noted will improve learning outcomes.

“The donation will really set us forward in terms of our IT-related subjects. It is a boost for those areas as well as in terms of facilitating content for different subject areas. Having these labs will deliver subjects in a way that is more interactive across all subject areas,” he added.