CLARENDON, Jamaica— Residents in and around the Toll Gate area of Clarendon, are being commended for their efforts to remove large trees and debris from the compound of the Toll Gate Primary School.

During the passage of Hurricane Beryl, scores of trees were uprooted at the institution and covered the school yard.

The institution’s principal, Reverend Carol Brown-Clarke said following the passage of the hurricane, an inspection was made of the damage done to the school.

She told JIS News that a message was sent via a WhatsApp group, asking for help and for people with power saws to come and assist.

“One man turned up, and gave a cost, and I decided that I could only do the infant department due to the cost, but a parent with the equipment was just in time, to offer his service free of cost,” she stated.

“In no time, he cut the trees, so that they are in a movable state, and I really appreciated it. I was in awe. There are still good people in this world, and parents who look out for the school and the community that their children are part of,” she added.

The principal informed that several community members also came by and assisted in the clean-up of the school compound.

For her part, Education Officer with the Ministry of Education and Youth, Raquel Ranger Cowan said the gesture from the community shows that stakeholder partnership for education is hopeful.

“I feel a sense of gratitude and hope that we do have good parents within our education system who give freely,” she said, adding that for education to have real success, parents must be part of the process.

-JIS