Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites is expressing gratitude to the various school and community groups for helping to get the majority of institutions ready for today's start of the Easter term.

"(They) have all really helped to give us a good start," Thwaites said. He noted that, based on reports, schools were generally ready for the new term, considering the damage some schools received after Hurricane Sandy in October.

"School communities have been excellent in recovery efforts after Sandy. The repairs may not all be complete, but they have done enough," he said. He noted that ministry officials, including Permanent Secretary Dr Elaine Foster-Allen, will be at the Port Maria Primary School in St Mary today to see the level of readiness.

Sections of the school suffered greatly from Hurricane Sandy and further heavy rains in November, leading to the relocation of classes.

Thwaites said the Sydney Pagan Agricultural High School in Elim, St Elizabeth, would have its start delayed by about a week because of regular repairs. He also noted that a water problem at the Holmwood Technical High School in Manchester might delay reopening for a few days. He said efforts were being made to avoid that.

The College of Agriculture, Science and Education in Portland is also expected to be open, despite major damage from the hurricane.