Region 5 principals hailed as heroes of post-Melissa education recovery

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Rhoda Crawford, has declared that principals across Region 5 were the driving force behind Jamaica's education recovery following Hurricane Melissa.

She noted that the sector's post-disaster successes were made possible by school leaders who refused to allow the Category 5 storm, which caused significant damage in October last year, to derail learning.

Speaking at the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information's Region 5 Gala Awards for Principals at the Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny on Wednesday night, Crawford praised principals from Manchester and St Elizabeth for their resilience and unwavering commitment during one of the country's most challenging periods.

"When Hurricane Melissa tore through our region, we saw the true measure of your leadership,” she told the principals who were being honoured for their leadership.

“While many were looking for safety, you were looking for your students.”

She said these principals went beyond their administrative duties, providing reassurance to students, teachers and families while coordinating the reopening of schools despite widespread destruction.

Crawford said their leadership ensured that education continued despite the challenges, describing them as the backbone of the recovery effort and thanking them for demonstrating courage, compassion and an unwavering commitment to Jamaica's children.

- Albert Ferguson

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