Sat | Jan 17, 2026

Tents help keep classes going at William Knibb

Published:Saturday | January 17, 2026 | 12:05 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
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A view of one of eight tents erected on the compound of the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, to serve as classroom spaces for the institution’s students following damage to the property during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28
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A view of one of eight tents erected on the compound of the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, to serve as classroom spaces for the institution’s students following damage to the property during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025.
A view of several tents erected on the compound of the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, to serve as classroom spaces for the institution’s students following damage to the property during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 202
Contributed
A view of several tents erected on the compound of the William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, to serve as classroom spaces for the institution’s students following damage to the property during the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025.
Linvern Wright.
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Linvern Wright.
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WESTERN BUREAU:

In response to dislocation caused by Hurricane Melissa, William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny has resorted to tents to ensure students continue their lessons while repairs are under way. The school, which suffered an estimated $400 million in damage, has adopted the temporary arrangement to avoid prolonged disruption.

Principal Linvern Wright told The Gleaner that the system, introduced on January 12, involves selected student groups attending on different days. The plan was devised by senior staff as part of efforts to rebound from the Category-5 hurricane.

“We lost about eight out of nine buildings in terms of their roofs, and all of the upstairs area is gone,” Wright said. “What we did was to make representation to the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, who actually gave us eight tents. And while each tent can hold up to 70 students, we have partitioned some of them, so that we have enough rooms covered to house four of the five student groups that we have, and we include grade 11 and the sixth-form students as one group.”

ROTATION SYSTEM

He explained that the rotation system was designed to minimise disruption. “Each day, it is just one student group that is out of school, except for Thursdays, when we bring everybody in, because of how the rooming allocations go on Thursday and the number of groups we have. Essentially, we ensure we have enough rooms, and then we bring the groups in accordingly. Our aim was to ensure we do not have students out for more than a single day per week.”

William Knibb, alma mater of sprint legend Usain Bolt, was one of 600 schools across western Jamaica badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa. Repairs have already begun, with work focused on the library, administrative block and fencing. Completion is projected for July.

Wright, who also serves as president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools, acknowledged that while the tent arrangement has been well received, it may not be suitable for all institutions.

“The tents are hot, but we understand that now is not a time when it is going to be 100 per cent comfortable. Right now, what we are focused on is getting the children in school, and we think there is a greater advantage to that, than there is a disadvantage to the heat coming from the tents, and the feedback has been good so far,” he said.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com