Phased reopening of schools continues

Some schools across St Vincent and the Grenadines officially opened their doors yesterday, September 9, 2024, as part of the Ministry of Education’s phased schools reopening plan.

The school term’s original opening date was September 2, 2024, but due to numerous issues stemming from the late start of construction and plant sanitization, Cabinet agreed to stagger the re-opening dates for schools both on the mainland and in the Grenadines.

In the capital and outskirts the Sion Hill Government School, Dr J.P Eustace Memorial Secondary School, and the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown, resumed classes on Monday, September 9, and further afield, the Diamond Government School, Georgetown Secondary, Petit Bordel Secondary School and Troumaca Ontario Secondary School got underway. In the Grenadines, the Lower Bay Inc on Bequia, and Canouan Government School in the Southern Grenadines, completed the list of schools for the September 9, reopening.

Though not damaged by Hurricane Beryl, some schools were used as emergency shelters for those affected by the category 4 weather system, and this delayed the commencement of the annual school plant rehabilitation.

At the St Joseph Convent Kingstown, it was a race against time to complete repair work and clean-up to welcome the forms 1-4 students. Classes for the fifth formers started last week, however, the part of the school which houses the first to fourth year students suffered major damage during the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

Principal, Sister Martha Sebastien explained to SEARCHLIGHT that in addition to the damage to the roof, the electrical outlets in the classrooms attached to the main hall had to be replaced because of water damage.

Over in the EDPM laboratory, the roof also had to be replaced, and water damage put up to three computers out of use.

Sister Sebastien said she felt relieved to finally welcome the remaining students yesterday morning and admitted that she was worried about if the

construction team and clean-up teams were going to meet the Monday deadline.

“We only finished on Saturday [September 7]. After the power wash, we had to wipe down all the furniture and mop again because there was still a lot of dust. That [construction] part is over, it was very frustrating some days.”

Although the bulk of the work is complete, there are still some outstanding issues to be settled as the Principal explained that cupboards in the staffroom have been deemed unusable due to a woodlice infestation.

The reopening of schools has been staggered for the next few days. Southern Grenadines students residing on the mainland were expected to commence classes today, Tuesday September 10. However, there will be a slight delay for students of the Mary Hutchinson Primary School and the Stephanie Browne Primary School due to heavy rainfall affecting the progress of construction. Students from these two primary schools will now tentatively resume classes on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

Classes for students at Bishop’s College, Kingstown, which is undergoing extensive construction work will be spread across two locations- the Girl Guides Headquarters at Level

Gardens, and the Kingstown Anglican School Annex behind the Victoria Park.

On Wednesday, September 11, the Union Island Secondary School will be opened on Union Island, while Union Island Secondary students on the mainland will start classes on September 10, 2024 at the former Teachers College building at Arnos Vale.