616 schools sustained damage during the passage of category five Hurricane Melissa last week.

Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon said over 450 of the schools are located in the hardest hit parishes.

Institutions across all levels, from infant to tertiary, were impacted.

Meantime, Dr Morris Dixon added that about a hundred schools opened on Tuesday.

She said the aim is to get more schools to reopen quickly.

Priority is being placed on students who are to sit external exams.

The Education Minister said the ministry is also looking at setting up temporary school structures.