School delayed - 'Dean', election extend summer vacation in Jamaica

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Wednesday | August 22, 2007

Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Students across the island have received an extended summer holiday as the Ministry of Education and Youth yesterday announced that the new school year will begin September 10.

School was scheduled to resume on September 3, but according to the ministry, the reopening has been delayed because of Hurricane Dean and the postponement of the general election.

Charlene Ashley, director of communications in the Ministry of Education and Youth, said full resumption of schools must take place no later than September 10, which is now the new official start of the school year. However, all schools are encouraged to implement regular start-up operations prior to this date.

Days will not be lost

"Principals, parents and students may be assured that the schools' calendar will be extended to compensate for the five school days that will be lost due to the delay in reopening," Ms. Ashley said.

Hopeton Henry, outgoing president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, said his association did not have a problem with the late start of the school year because the election is a national event which was affected by a natural occurrence.

He also welcomed the news that the fivedays would be made up.

But, at least one school may not be able to reopen in September, as Hurricane Dean, which battered the island on Sunday has left several classrooms and other areas of the institution damaged.

Reford Hinds, principal of Donald Quarrie High School in east Kingston, told The Gleaner yesterday that the flood waters from storm surges damaged a retaining wall at the school.

The industrial arts department was also damaged and large boulders and debris were found in that area of the school when administrators went to check on the status of the institution, which is situated near to Caribbean Terrace.

Mr. Hinds noted that the roofs of the Reading Room, the Guidance and Counselling Department and the tuck shop were also damaged.

Additionally the Teachers' Cottages, which accommodate five teachers, was also damaged.

"It is a terrible situation," Mr. Hinds said. We definitely will not be able to reopen fully any time soon," he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Noel Monteith, State Minister in the Ministry of Education and Youth said he had received reports of damaged schools across the island. He was, however, unable to state how many schools were affected, noting that he was yet to receive reports from schools in St. Thomas and other parishes, where there are problems with communication.

Asked if these schools would be repaired in time for September Senator Monteith said the ministry would have to evaluate the situation.

"It will take us a little time to do the evaluation so we will be evaluating and taking it from there," he told The Gleaner.

In the meantime, the Ministry has established a temporary emergency information centre in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean. The centre will facilitate the dissemination of information on the post-hurricane status of schools. It will also accommodate information on the status of schools islandwide.

All principals and board chairpersons are asked to contact the centre or their respective regional offices to report on the physical statusof their schools.