Letter of the Day | Private schools in western parishes need help

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In the weeks after Hurricane Melissa ravaged sections of western Jamaica, national attention has rightly centred on the severe damage to roadways, water systems, and agricultural livelihoods. While these interventions are vital, one troubling gap remains: the near-complete omission of private schools from the recovery agenda.

There is a persistent misconception that private schools are uniformly elite, well-funded, or capable of self-sustained recovery. The reality is far different. Many private schools are modest, community-based institutions operated by churches, small education collectives, or non-profit organisations. They serve predominantly working-class families who choose these schools for their smaller class sizes, individualised attention, or specialised learning environments. Many of these families are not wealthy, and their schools are not insulated from disaster.

Hurricane Melissa left a significant number of these schools severely damaged. Yet, unlike public institutions, they have received little to no formal assessment or targeted relief. They are expected to absorb the loss and rebuild independently, despite limited financial reserves. This approach is inequitable.

All children, regardless of the type of institution they attend, deserve safe, secure learning spaces. When private schools are excluded from disaster response, their students are denied the same protections and opportunities afforded to their peers in the public system. This creates an uneven playing field when stability and continuity in education are critical.

With many private institutions uncertain about when they will reopen if at all — parents are considering transferring their children into already overcrowded public schools. The Ministry has acknowledged that western Jamaica’s public school system is under significant strain. An influx of displaced students will only worsen capacity challenges, disrupt classroom environments, and place added pressure on educators and administrators.

Supporting private schools in the recovery process is essential to stabilising education sector as a whole. Post-Hurricane Melissa relief efforts must be equitable, transparent, and inclusive. There should formal assessment of damage to private schools, document their needs, and provide access to material support, structural repairs, and psychosocial services. Partnerships with NGOs, community groups, and the private sector could help create a dedicated recovery fund to assist these institutions in rebuilding.

Hurricane Melissa exposed longstanding vulnerabilities, but it also offers an opportunity to reaffirm a simple principle: every child, whether in a public or private school, matters. The recovery efforts must reflect that commitment.

AFRICKA STEPHENS

Executive Founder

astephens@fiwechildren.org