JYAN and UNESCO complete #ExamReady tutoring marathons, call for continued support for Hurricane-Affected Students

The Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN), through support from UNESCO, has successfully completed the tutoring component of #ExamReady: Rebuilding Through Education – CSEC Tutoring Marathon & School Supply Drive, a youth-led initiative designed to support students in St. Elizabeth whose education was disrupted by Hurricane Melissa.

Ahead of the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, JYAN hosted two in-person tutoring sessions on April 25 and May 2, alongside supplementary virtual support in Mathematics, English A, Biology, Information Technology, and Principles of Accounts. The initiative engaged students from Maggotty High School and St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

Recognising that many students were still navigating the academic and personal impacts of Hurricane Melissa, the programme was intentionally designed to provide personalised support through small-group learning, mentorship, exam preparation strategies, concept clarification, and peer-to-peer encouragement. Students also received exam preparation kits containing stationery and learning materials to support their studies.

The programme further benefited from a session facilitated by UNESCO, which explored the role of artificial intelligence in education while creating space for students to reflect on how Hurricane Melissa affected their learning experiences and exam preparation.

Pre-session evaluations highlighted the need for targeted academic support. Among participating students, nearly 60% reported low to moderate confidence in Mathematics, while 73.4% rated their preparedness in the subject at similar levels. Information Technology presented comparable challenges, with more than 57% reporting low to moderate confidence and almost 77% rating their preparedness at level three or below. Biology emerged as the area of greatest concern, with 66.6% of students reporting low confidence and 87.5% indicating low preparedness. Students identified limited study time (73.3%), exam anxiety (60%), difficulty understanding key concepts (53.3%), and challenges concentrating (46.7%) as the primary barriers affecting their exam preparation.

Post-session findings demonstrated a strong positive shift. More than 86% of participants reported feeling better prepared for their examinations, while 66.7% agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more confident. Exam readiness strategies also improved significantly, with 93.4% agreeing or strongly agreeing that the sessions enhanced their approach to examinations. 

Tutor engagement received excellent ratings from 73.3% of students, while 73.3% rated the clarity of explanations as very good or excellent. Most importantly, 91.7% of participants reported that the programme helped them address the specific challenges they had identified before the sessions, and 100% indicated that they would recommend similar support initiatives to other students. 

JYAN extends sincere thanks to Lifespan Spring for partnering with us on this initiative. While the tutoring marathons have concluded, the school supplies and book drive component of the initiative remains ongoing. Educational resources collected through the drive will be distributed to students at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), Maggotty High School, Siloah Primary School, and Mayfield Primary and Infant School in August 2026. Donations of stationery, textbooks, reading materials, storybooks, and other school supplies will help replenish resources lost or damaged during Hurricane Melissa and support students as they prepare for the new academic year.

JYAN and UNESCO are calling on the public, both local and overseas, to contribute to the initiative and invest in the long-term educational recovery of affected communities.

“Recovery does not end when the storm passes. Many students are still rebuilding and replacing educational resources that were lost or damaged. Through this initiative, we hope to ensure that students not only recover but return to school with the tools, confidence, and support they need to thrive. We are encouraging all Jamaicans who can contribute to help us continue supporting these students on their educational journey, ” said Natalia Burton, Project Officer at the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN).

Persons wishing to support the drive may donate stationery, textbooks, reading materials, and other school supplies at Unit #8, Tri7 Complex, 7 Ivy Green Crescent, Kingston 5, or contribute online at youthadvocateja.org/donate.