Opposition Leader Mark Golding is demanding greater transparency from the Government on the repair of schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
Mr Golding, President of the People’s National Party (PNP) is calling for the publication of a school recovery dashboard, declaring that the Government’s school reconstruction programme is a failure.
That call follows the July 15, announcement by Minister of Education Dr Dana Morris Dixon that information on rehabilitation projects would be posted on the websites of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information and the National Education Trust (NET).
Dr Morris Dixon said the information will be updated twice monthly.
Checks on the NET website show two files, dated July and August, containing spreadsheets outlining Priority One to Three summaries on schools’ affected by the storm.
Mr Golding, speaking at a press conference on Monday, said the dashboard should reflect, among other things, the completion percentages for all schools which are yet to be repaired, “and showing the handover the targets, 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,” he said, adding that the the timeline for finishing each project and the “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, from public information.”
The Opposition Leader is also demanding full transparency on spending for the reconstruction programme.
He said this should include answers to outstanding questions raised in the Auditor General’s February 2026, findings on the management of donations received following Hurricane Melissa.
Closure, Merger Protocol
Mr Golding is calling as well for a list and the criteria for any school proposed for closure, merger, or exclusion from reconstruction.Following the merger of Hydel High and Cumberland High in St. Catherine, the Government indicated that more schools are slated to be merged.
“They must be published before decisions are taken, with genuine consultation, with the key stakeholders, who are, of course, of course, the parents, the boards, and the teachers of those schools,” he said, adding that those decisions should also be debated in Parliament