The Government has moved to fully underwrite the cost of private psychological services for students and educators impacted by Hurricane Melissa, acknowledging the storm’s severe mental toll on Jamaica’s education sector.
Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon announced the initiative during a Senate address, emphasizing that the trauma endured by school communities extends far beyond the physical destruction of classrooms and campuses. Over 111,000 students and 5,000 staff members across public schools have had their lives destabilized—some losing not just learning time, but homes, routines, and any sense of normalcy.
“Entire school communities have been dislocated. Teachers are juggling personal losses while also trying to keep education alive. Students are displaced, disoriented, and distressed. We cannot quantify the emotional damage just yet, but we can act decisively,” the minister stated.
Among the most affected are students like a young girl from Montego Bay, now relocated to Trelawny after her home was obliterated. Morris Dixon highlighted this as one of many personal tragedies that underscore the urgent need for tailored psychological intervention.
To meet this need, the Ministry of Education has partnered with licensed psychologists and psychiatrists nationwide. Under this arrangement, any student or teacher requiring psychological care can access private clinicians without bearing any personal cost. The program is designed to ensure that trauma support is not delayed by financial barriers.
A comprehensive bulletin has been issued to schools containing contact details for both clinicians and volunteer counsellors. Additionally, 53 guidance counsellors have been assigned to provide tele-counselling support across the island.
Morris Dixon also confirmed the reactivation of four parenting support helplines and the mobilization of over 55 parent mentors through the National Parent Support Commission. These mentors are embedded in local communities to deliver immediate peer-based psychosocial aid. On-the-ground support is also being provided to families in the hardest-hit parishes.
As of November 19, 791 schools—roughly 78% of the total—have resumed operations. But recovery remains uneven. Assessments reveal that 679 public schools and 21 tertiary institutions suffered varying levels of damage, with some campuses entirely razed.
“In some cases, you arrive at what used to be a school, and all you see is a perimeter wall and a concrete slab. That’s the level of devastation we’re dealing with,” Morris Dixon said.
To accelerate the resumption of learning, the ministry has disbursed over $325 million under the Rapid Resumption Grant program. Depending on the extent of damage, schools received between $300,000 and $1 million each to address urgent clean-up tasks, restore water and electricity, and make facilities safe for return.
The Ministry continues to work with affected institutions to ensure that no student is left behind—not just academically, but emotionally—as Jamaica rebuilds its education system from the ground up following one of the most devastating storms in its history.
