Officials concerned about ‘hurricane dropouts’

When Hurricane Melissa swept across the island in October, it not only tore roofs from classrooms, fractured benches, and soaked uniforms beyond repair, it caused some displacement of students.

That fact has raised fears that some of these pupils may never find their way back to the classroom. Principal of Maggotty High School in St Elizabeth, Sean Graham, has raised concerns, recalling prior experience.

"I saw this during COVID-19. Normally, after a long hiatus like this, students get caught up in different things, some for economic reasons, some because of just being idle and distracted," he said. He added that prolonged absences also fuel disinterest in learning, particularly when parental support is limited.

According to the Jamaica Education Statistics Report (2020), the national dropout rate is about 20 per cent, with some schools reporting even higher numbers. Following the pandemic, approximately 50,000 adolescents of secondary-school age are currently out of school, with three out of five being boys. Pregnancy and financial challenges are the main reasons children from the poorest households drop out.

"They come from an area where there are a lot of activities where boys can make money, and they start to earn. Then with the girls being out for so long, we have to consider them being prey to people who don't have their best interest," Graham warned.

Graham said he fears Melissa's impact on student attendance could be "far worse" than previous disruptions. He also highlighted the challenges faced by returning students.

"A lot of them, being out in communities so long, develop maladaptive behaviour; so there is a disrespect to adults, and agitation from being in school under rules. So they take a while to re-adapt," he said.

President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, Stewart Jacobs, said the storm could trigger a shift in students' career paths.

"One of those changes is that they are going to decide that it is only six months left in the school year and their school life, so those students in grade 10 up to 13 will now decide if they can get into a university ... or a higher place of learning, or they go into the working world, because school has become a desolate place for them," Jacobs said.

However, he warned that the effect will be harsh.

"You will now see a cohort who have not matriculated from school knowing how the education system is set, so they will be at a disadvantage," he said.

Noticing a shift in students' value for education and the various ways students can make an income without completing secondary education, Jacobs called for support to properly guide students.

"Students now have to weigh the options. You can be an entrepreneur, playing games making a few US dollars, but you can still be going to school, making yourself flexible," he said. "We need to educate our youngsters to strengthen their career paths, and give them opportunities to make them more viable and employable."

He added that the dropout rate of students will not only increase due to Melissa, but also because of the change in educational values for the younger generation.

"What this generation wants is instant gratification. They want to go to the fast-food line, they want to consume it now. Well, that's the same they want for their education - the easiest and shortest way out," Jacobs said.

Jacobs also urged parents to continue supporting students who might drop out.

"Never stop being a parent. Support them like when they were in grade one; and so, if your child, at 30, is depending on you, support them and encourage them by even being an investor in their business. But just support them and continue to be a parent."