JTA and e-Learning Jamaica upgrade special education schools with technology and repairs

The Jamaica Teachers Association says a partnership with e-Learning Jamaica Limited has advanced Labour Day projects at four special education institutions across Jamaica, combining repair work with new classroom technology to support students with special needs.

JTA President Mark Malava said teams were sent to institutions in South Central, Southeast, Northeast and Western Jamaica. The locations named were Woodlon School of Special Education in Manchester, Belmont Park Primary in St. Catherine, St. Christopher School for the Deaf in the Northwest, and the Lucy Center of Special Education in the West.

According to Malava, the work included renovation of damaged areas, while e-Learning Jamaica provided and installed modern education equipment. He said the support included smartboards, laptops and tablets for students.

Malava said the intervention was particularly needed because several of the schools had suffered serious damage during Hurricane Melissa. He said the JTA moved into the institutions to assist with substantial repairs, while e-Learning Jamaica focused on strengthening the technology available for teaching and learning.

The JTA president also used the project to call for greater national focus on special education. He said students with special needs remain among the country’s vulnerable learners, and argued that the sector has not received the level of attention it deserves over the years.

Malava said the JTA is seeking to play a dual role by advocating for improvements at these institutions while also providing practical help where it can. He said the recent projects were intended to give schools immediate support as they work to restore and improve learning environments for their students.