Schools, churches unite to host students from devastated parishes
Jamaica Gleaner | 2025-12-01 | Original Article
Some 200 students from five of the parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Melissa are set to continue their education under a relocation initiative – the brainchild of St Catherine North West Member of Parliament Damion Crawford.
The North West St Catherine Solidarity Student Exchange Programme will identify students from primary and secondary institutions in St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St James and Trelawny who are unable to attend classes because of school buildings being severely damaged during the hurricane. These students will be relocated to the constituency and placed in local schools to ensure consistent learning.
At last Thursday’s launch, Crawford explained that the children will arrive on December 18, spend the Christmas holidays in the constituency, and commence classes in January. They are slated to remain until June 2026.
“Three of our high schools and 12 of our primary schools have committed their space, and the ministers fraternal have engaged their congregation to host the children as well as [provide] dormitory spaces and provide inhouse supervision,” Crawford explained.
He described the programme as a Church-led venture, noting that the decision to involve religious institutions was deliberate.
Crawford said he believes the Church remains the most connected institution in Jamaica and continues to play a critical role in shaping a moral society “in which God will find pleasure”.
He added that relocating the children before Christmas is crucial because of cultural factors associated with the holiday season and the growing health concerns in the worst-affected communities.
“It is an emergency to get them out as quickly as possible, based on the social risk, also the health risk they are facing. So, the earlier you can get them out, [the better], so that they can integrate into the space as well,” he said.
“What we are trying to do is to have them settled before the opening of school ... . Aditionally, within the schools, we will be doing an adopt-a-brother/sister programme, so that existing students will help them to integrate as well,” Crawford revealed.
Crawford also acknowledged that the programme must anticipate behavioural challenges with some incoming students, and outlined several mitigation measures.
“There is nothing that has rewards that don’t have risks. So what we are trying to do is to mitigate those risks. Some of those strategies are the big brother/big sister programme, provision of peer counselling, the host will go through counselling so that they will understand the expectations, and a pastor asigned to each family to have weekly engagement. We will also have the services of a psychiatrist,” he revealed.
Given the programme’s Church-based foundation, Crawford said, participation will include mandatory church attendance.
Secretary of the Linstead Ministers Fraternal, Calvin Woodham, expressed strong backing for the initiative.
“The fraternal has been involved in education over the years. In fact, each year, we assist students with scholarships. We have 30 member churches and they are all on board. Some will be hosting students while some will be providing supplies,” Woodham disclosed.
Ewarton High School Principal Jacqueline Simpson-Huntley, who committed her institution to the programme, said her team will work closely with schools from which the students are being transferred.
“So we will do a background check before they are admitted. Anything that comes up, then we will know what we are getting into and put the necessary plans in place to mitigate against any disruptive behaviour from these students,” she said.
Meanwhile, principal representative for Quality Education Circle Group 53, Camile Henlon-Lake, affirmed the unity among educators during this critical recovery period.
“Hurricane Melissa has disrupted the lives of many of our nation’s children, leaving them very vulnerable, displaced and in need of stability and care that only strong communities can provide,” she stressed.
Henlon-Lake added that, although the task ahead is significant, principals are embracing the responsibility, “answering the call to service”.
ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com
View the discussion thread.