99% of early childhood institutions reopen post-hurricane

According to a release from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, the dedicated recovery push has ensured that 2,399 of the nation’s 2,420 institutions are once again operational.

The storm’s impact was severe, disrupting services for approximately 24,058 infants and 2,305 practitioners. Initial assessments revealed that 466 institutions sustained damage, with 132 classified as severe. Twenty-eight facilities were temporarily inaccessible due to flooding and debris, with Regions 3, 4, and 5 bearing the brunt of the disruption.

Dr. Karlene DeGrasse-Deslandes, Executive Director of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), hailed the sector’s strength. “Hurricane Melissa tested our resilience, but it also highlighted the strength of our systems and the unwavering dedication of our practitioners,” she stated. The commission’s priority, she emphasized, remains restoring “safe, nurturing and emotionally supportive environments” for the nation’s youngest children.

The recovery effort has been a coordinated, multi-partner initiative. The ECC has led phased clean-up and repair efforts, bolstered safety monitoring, and provided extensive guidance to ensure institutions meet national health and safety standards. Critical psychosocial support has reached over 1,616 stakeholders, facilitated by partnerships with Early Starters International, UNICEF Jamaica, and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI).

Tangible support has flowed to the hardest-hit areas, with 32 play kits from the ECC and the CHASE Fund, alongside 26 UNICEF “School-in-a-Box” kits, distributed to severely impacted parishes. Furthermore, the MoESYI is currently processing approximately $29.8 million in clean-up grants for the sector, which will be disbursed through the ECC.

Dr. Kasan Troupe, Permanent Secretary in the MoESYI, framed the recovery as foundational to national development. “The recovery of the early childhood sector is not only about restoring infrastructure, but about safeguarding continuity of care, learning and emotional wellbeing for our youngest learners,” Dr. Troupe said.

Amidst the rebuild, the national Jamaica Brain Builder Programme — the government’s flagship early stimulation strategy for children 0-3 years — has maintained its operations. The programme continues to serve 3,230 children across 138 centres islandwide, with several centres implementing temporary safety measures to ensure service continuity.

The ECC affirms its ongoing commitment to supporting all institutions in meeting the mandated 12 Operating Standards, aiming to forge a more resilient and child-centred early childhood system from the challenges of Hurricane Melissa.