The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has reiterated its call for the Ministries of Education, Local Government, and Labour and Social Security to collaboratively develop a comprehensive policy for the treatment of schools in the aftermath of natural disasters.

This in the wake of lingering concerns from the association about the use of schools as shelters for a prolonged period following Hurricane Melissa last October.

Speaking at a forum on Disaster Risk Management and Recovery in Education on Monday, JTA President, Mark Malabver said the policy should clearly set out guidelines, to include how shelterees are to be relocated from schools.

He said such a policy framework is pivotal given the recent recent extended use of some schools as shelters following the hurricane.