William Knibb High School to reopen in phases amid $400M hurricane damage

William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny plans to reopen on January 5 on a phased despite preliminary repair estimates of $400 million following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa.

School authorities hope that by Thursday, January 8, all 1,100 students will be back in class.

“We suffered significant damage from Hurricane Melissa. Eight of nine classrooms lost their roofing [and] windows and doors are damaged. The electrical system suffered major damage," Principal Linvern Wright told The Gleaner.

He said the repair estimate was communicated to him by the Ministry of Education, which has also promised to provide enough tents to cover the eight classrooms currently without roofs.

Expressing urgency to resume teaching, Wright said, “I am anxious, especially for those with external exams right around the corner. There are gaps which need to be filled.”

Hundreds of schools were damaged by the hurricane, which slammed Jamaica on October 28.

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