Kingston, Jamaica — 9 March 2026
A number of schools across South Central and Western Jamaica are reporting declining student attendance in the weeks following Hurricane Melissa, with some educators indicating that students may be staying home to help families rebuild damaged farms and homes.
At Louisville High School in St. Elizabeth, the disruption has been particularly noticeable. The acting principal says more than one-third of the school’s roughly 300 students are currently absent from classes, with many believed to come from farming communities heavily affected by the storm.
The hurricane caused extensive damage across parts of rural southern Jamaica, impacting both agricultural livelihoods and housing. In areas such as Dinday and surrounding districts, families are still attempting to recover after losing crops, livestock, and, in some cases, significant portions of their homes.
For some households, the immediate priority has shifted from schooling to survival and rebuilding.
