Hot classroom tent abandoned at Holland Primary Students, teachers turn to trees for shade

HOLLAND, St Elizabeth — Scorching heat and poor ventilation under a tent being used as a classroom for second and third graders on Monday drove some Holland Primary School teachers and students to seek relief in the shade provided by a mango tree and a structure made of bamboo. We attempted using [the tent] this morning, but the heat got the better of us, so [the students and teachers] had to flee. We have been utilising the available trees that we have on the compound now,” Principal Simone Doctor told the Jamaica Observer on Monday as the first day of the new academic year got under way.

“We got a double tent and we had expected it to host two classrooms today, so we attempted that, but not even one classroom is in here because of the heat,” she added. The Holland Primary grade three class under a mango tree on Monday. It is unclear when a new classroom block will be built to accommodate staff and the 215 students on roll.

Doctor repeated her call for assistance in getting cooling systems for the school which is now using four tents as classrooms. “The idea moving forward is to get some cooling devices. I am going to source some today [Monday], some really powerful fans.

We need some portable air-conditioning units, but for now the trees are our best friends,” she said. Grade two students at Holland Primary School seated during their outdoor class under a bamboo structure on Monday. An existing outdoor reading nook made from bamboo was used to shelter grade two students from the scorching sun, while grade three students had their class under a mango tree.

“Outdoor classroom is not a unique situation. We have always been utilising outdoor space. Teaching and learning not only takes place within the walls of a building.

Having them outside is just basically something that they are used to, [but] not full-time. Today is the first day and they are coping so far and participating. This is not ideal going forward with the weather, so we hope to get those cooling devices to make teaching and learning more comfortable,” said the principal.