Liberty Caribbean Foundation commits $10 million to education recovery in Westmoreland

Education recovery in Eastern Westmoreland received a major boost with a contribution of more than $10 million from the Liberty Caribbean Foundation and the Flow Foundation toward the establishment of the Maud McLeod High Resource Hub.

The Hub was created in response to widespread disruption caused by Hurricane Melissa, which damaged dozens of schools across the parish. Working alongside the Ministry of Education’s targeted recovery interventions, the new facility will provide structured, equitable access to essential teaching tools and learning resources for Maud McLeod High School and neighbouring institutions including one infant school, nine primary schools and one secondary school.

The Flow Foundation–sponsored Resource Hub is expected to play a transformative role in restoring learning conditions. It will directly support eight of the 43 schools that experienced significant damage and three of the 26 schools that were partially damaged in Westmoreland.

Executive Director of the Liberty Caribbean Foundation, Rhys Campbell, said the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to building educational resilience in vulnerable communities.

“When education is disrupted, it is our children’s future that is placed at risk. This investment is about restoring opportunity. By creating shared access to technology, materials and safe learning spaces, we are helping to ensure that students in Westmoreland can continue learning, growing and preparing for their future, despite the challenges they face.”

MODEL OF COLLABORATION

Under the shared-resource model, schools will be able to borrow instructional materials and technological devices, access printing and photocopying services, and use specialised classrooms and laboratory spaces. The model is designed to sustain quality instruction for schools still managing infrastructural setbacks from the hurricane.

Eight schools that have not yet been returned to the electricity grid – St. John’s Infant; Cairn Curran Primary & Infant; Content Primary & Infant; Caledonia Primary & Infant; Chantilly Primary & Infant; Carmel Primary & Infant; Holly Hill Primary; and Enfield Primary – are expected to benefit significantly from the facility.

Dr. Michelle Pinnock, Region 4 Regional Director at the Ministry of Education, described the resource hub as a model of collaboration that addresses the immediate learning needs of Western Jamaica.

“This partnership has resulted in a centre of excellence for our children, and it aligns with the Government’s plan for all children to return to school and experience quality teaching and learning,” Dr. Pinnock said. “I would like to see these resource hubs replicated islandwide to provide equity in education and equal access to resources.”

Students are already expressing renewed optimism. “This resource hub makes education easier for me because I can use the technology to help with my SBA assignments and access past papers online,” said Alexia Williams, a Grade 11 student at Maud McLeod. “Knowing we have a place to use computers, print assignments and do labs makes me feel more confident about my exams.”

As restoration continues across Westmoreland, the Maud McLeod High Resource Hub stands as a tangible symbol of partnership, resilience and a shared commitment to safeguarding Jamaica’s students and their futures.