KINGSTON, Jamaica — Political attention is intensifying around Jamaica’s efforts to rebuild schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, after Prime Minister Andrew Holness faced criticism over comments concerning students learning under trees.

Holness recently referred to reports of students attending classes outdoors because their schools had not yet been fully repaired. A child-advocacy group, Fi Wi Children Foundation, criticized the characterization and argued that children affected by damaged school infrastructure deserve urgent restoration of safe learning environments.

The controversy comes as the Ministry of Education reports that 57 of more than 300 severely damaged schools have been repaired, with the ministry projecting that more than half of the severely affected institutions could be completed by the end of 2026.

The issue has become politically significant as the Holness administration enters its second year following its historic third consecutive election victory in September 2025.

The school-reconstruction debate is therefore putting renewed focus on government delivery, disaster recovery, education infrastructure and accountability, particularly in communities still dealing with the effects of Hurricane Melissa.