Edwin Allen High School’s principal calls the storm damage a blessing, as repairs finally deliver infrastructure improvements the 62-year-old institution had requested for years.
When Hurricane Melissa tore through Clarendon, it destroyed roofs across nine classrooms at Edwin Allen High School, along with offices, a canteen, and storage areas. Yet Principal Jermaine Harris views the devastation as an unexpected opportunity. The Category 5 storm forced the hand of authorities to finally fund repairs the school had requested for years, transforming a 62-year-old campus that Harris said was suffering from termite infestations and deteriorating infrastructure.
Working on an accelerated schedule from January through the summer break, contractors labored in shifts and on weekends to restore the school before the new academic year began on September 7. According to the Jamaica Observer, the team repaired the grade 10 block’s nine classrooms, restored offices for guidance counsellors and the dean of discipline, upgraded bathrooms, retrofitted three tuckshops, and repaired the agriculture block. Harris told the outlet he was determined to reclaim the campus quickly, as the previous rotation schedule—which forced some students to attend school only two or three days per week while others learned online—had created chaos for families and prompted some to transfer elsewhere.
Harris, who took the helm in 2021, said the campus’s appearance directly shapes school culture and student performance. “When you enter a campus it speaks to the performance, the ethos, and the culture of a school,” he explained to the Jamaica Observer. The principal credited the Ministry of Education and National Education Trust, along with the contractors’ dedication, for delivering what he called an “immaculate” transformation that aligns with his vision of a high-performance institution.
Still, challenges remain. Sourcing delays have stalled window installations, and the school has yet to replace approximately 60 computers and printers damaged by the storm—equipment critical for Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate information technology students preparing for school-based assessments and practicals. Harris appealed to past students and Jamaicans for donations to restore the computer lab, noting that teachers achieved a 97 percent pass rate in information technology the previous year despite improvising with students’ personal devices.
As the school reopens with its new infrastructure, Harris said the focus is on creating a safe, clean, and organized learning environment. The school’s theme for the year—”high performance driven by innovation”—reflects his commitment to maintaining academic excellence and athletic achievement while leveraging the campus improvements to support teaching and learning.
Edwin Allen High School is a 62-year-old institution in Clarendon, Jamaica. Principal Jermaine Harris has led the school since 2021. The school previously operated on a rotation schedule due to infrastructure constraints, with some students attending classes only two or three days per week.
This story illustrates how Caribbean schools navigate disaster recovery and infrastructure challenges common across the region. It also highlights how hurricane damage, while destructive, can sometimes accelerate long-delayed institutional improvements—a pattern relevant to Caribbean educators and communities rebuilding after storms.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: News · Island routing: Jamaica