Golding criticises Holness over outdoor learning remark, wants timelines for school repairs

Opposition Leader and People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding has described Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’ defence of his remarks about schoolchildren learning outdoors “closure to nature”, arising from absent classrooms due to unfinished Hurricane Melissa repairs, as arrogant and inappropriate.

Holness made the remark last Tuesday at the launch of the Jamaica Reconstruction and Resilience Oversight Committee (JAMROCC), saying, among other things, that outdoor learning offers a different environment for students.

His remarks triggered widespread criticism, especially among those in the education sector.

Holness, speaking at a National Housing Trust (NHT) ground-breaking ceremony for houses in St Catherine days later, rebuffed the pushback, calling the criticisms made against him "nonsense."

Golding, speaking today at a PNP press conference on education and back-to-school, slammed Holness for doubling down.

“So clearly the Prime Minister misspoke. But instead of acknowledging that and, with some humility, saying he misspoke, maybe he was taken out of context, and he never intended to in any way diminish the severity of the situation being faced by these students, instead he doubled down and started to talk about hundreds of peer-reviewed studies that show the benefit of learning in nature,” said Golding.

The Opposition Leader demanded the Prime Minister look inward, urging him to reflect on the impact of his words.

“Now you know that is a display of arrogance which really we could do without. And I would just call on the Prime Minister to acknowledge that the remarks were inappropriate in the context of the struggles being faced by our students in these schools who have to be learning in the elements, because they have no choice to learn in a classroom and the government needs to get its act together and sort out this situation,” argued Golding.

The opposition leader called for more transparency in the recovery process for schools damaged by Melissa’s wrath.

To that end, Golding wants the Government to give clear timelines on reconstruction.

“We are calling for a published, school-by-school recovery dashboard, showing the completion percentages for all schools which are yet to be repaired and showing the handover target dates, and that should be updated on a weekly basis so the country can track the progress in getting the school system back to a normal state. We want a firm national date by which no Jamaican child will be taught outdoors or in some unfit temporary space. What is the timeline for finishing this project? We need immediate minimum standards for every tent or temporary classroom that is in use, things like proper flooring, ventilation, shading, fans, and portable cooling units where needed. And we need an inspection and reporting regime on that, with transparency through public information.”

Following the merger of Hydel and Cumberland high schools in St. Catherine, the government has indicated that more schools are slated for merger.

The opposition wants more information on those activities.

“We're asking for a list and the criteria for any school proposed for closure, merger, or exclusion from reconstruction. It must be published before decisions are taken, with genuine consultation with the key stakeholders who are, of course, the parents, the boards and the teachers of those schools.

Golding also classified as a "fundamental failure on the part of the government" the situation where only 57 of the 688 schools damaged by the hurricane, 313 seriously, have so far been repaired.

“I want to congratulate those students who did well in their high school CSEC results and their parents and families despite all the challenges. We celebrate your achievements, but the reality is that Jamaica's education system is not supporting national development in the way it should, and it needs a fundamental shift in policy to achieve better outcomes for our students,” Golding said.

- Karen Madden

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