Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
GHS ordered to reverse decision in relation to school uniform
The Girls High School
News
November 27, 2020

GHS ordered to reverse decision in relation to school uniform

The Ministry of Health in an official release has noted that the fight against dengue fever is a shared responsibility.

And, as a result, the Ministry is asking persons to continue to work together to further reduce the number of new cases and the occurrence of bad outcomes.

The reminder from the health ministry came just as the Ministry of Education shot down a decision by the Girls’ High School (GHS) that students revert to wearing their regular uniforms to school.

Back in September, in an effort to fight the spread of dengue fever, the Ministry of Education heeded the advice of the Ministry of Health and strongly suggested that students throughout the country wear long sleeved shirts and long pants to classes.

However, during an assembly of the all-girl school last week, Headmistress Michelle Beache told students that beginning from Monday November 23, the first day internal examinations, they would be required to wear their regular school uniforms when attending school.

Following the directive, a vast majority of students began wearing their school uniforms on Monday, despite the fact that the Surveillance Committee of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment noted that 1,617 laboratory-confirmed cases of dengue fever had been recorded as at November 14.

Also, the Committee confirmed that a 10-year-old female, with an underlying cardiac condition was admitted to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) on November 14 and died on Friday, November 20 from severe dengue fever.

The death of this child brought to seven, the number of persons who have died as a direct result of dengue fever during this current epidemic.

The decision by the GHS to ask students to stop wearing protective clothing was seen as “strange” by some parents as the school is located near to a river and it has been noted that the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, the vector that carries dengue fever, is attracted to dark colours and tends to bite around the ankles.

The colour of the skirt of the school’s uniform is navy blue.

One parent also described the decision as “weird” as on Friday October 9, Kaylee Robertson, a 13-year-old third form student of the school became the sixth person to die from complications related to Severe Dengue Fever in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

One parent, Lyf Compton, took to social media site Facebook to voice his opinion on the decision.

He wrote, “as persons continue to die from Dengue Fever in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), preventative measures suggested by the Ministry of Health through the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and passed on to the Ministry of Education are being ignored by management at the Girls’ High School (GHS).

“Students are being forced to wear their uniforms and not the attire that is being allowed by all other schools on the island and is highly recommended by the CMO.

Compton said he spoke with Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Myccle Burke and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Simone Keizer-Beache about the issue and during the conversation with the CMO it was noted that the wearing of long clothing has been linked to the reduction in dengue cases, although the numbers are still higher than normal.
A teacher who preferred to remain anonymous said that several parents and teachers at the GHS had questioned the decision by the school’s management before the Ministry of Education stepped in.

The teacher noted that after complaints began making the rounds, the teachers were told to not officially announce that the decision which called for the wearing of uniforms had been rescinded, but not to rebuke students who wore long clothing, but also not inform students who wore uniforms that they could revert to protective clothing.

The Pan-American Health Organization’s (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean (EC) Dr Yitades Gebre recently stated that all governments need to provide leadership, clear communication and strong public health measures and resources and partnerships to fight dengue.

He said that so far, the Caribbean is being advised to contain the spread of dengue, as 2.7 million cases, many of whom are children, have been recorded in the Caribbean, Latin America and North America thus far for 2020.

“Individuals need to do their part in avoiding bites by mosquitoes, keeping homes free of the vector, personal protection and caring for most vulnerable in the family such as children and persons with chronic illness, and seeking medical attention early, when feeling sick,” Dr Gebre stated earlier this month.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Free movement of  people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Front Page
    Free movement of people in 4 Caricom states begins tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Many Vincentians and other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals are welcoming the decision by four CARICOM governments to institute the free moveme...
    ‘Unprincipled  non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Front Page
    ‘Unprincipled non-state operators in Europe seeking to pollute” elections in SVG – PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly a few days ago that entities in the international sphere are seeking...
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50  businesses in East Kingstown
    Front Page
    Bramble promises $1 million from CBI money for 50 businesses in East Kingstown
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The opposition New Democratic Party (NDP), moved its campaign to Sion Hill last Saturday, September, 27,2025 as it seeks to retain its hold on the Eas...
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Front Page
    PM calls at U N meeting for better deal for Taiwan, Haiti
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves renewed his call at the United Nations for the inclusion of Taiwan in the organisation’s specialised agencies. Deli...
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Front Page
    Over EC$700,000 paid to VincyMas 2025 Winners
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    More than EC$700,000 in prize money was handed out to the 2025 VincyMas winners, on Sunday night, September, 28,2025, at Carnival City, Victoria Park....
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Press Release
    Caribbean launches Shelter Working Group to boost Disaster Preparedness
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    As the Atlantic Hurricane season reaches its peak, more than 47 disaster management professionals from across the Caribbean and beyond have joined for...
    News
    Rose Place woman  remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    From the Courts, News
    Rose Place woman remanded for threatening to “blow out” man’s head
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A woman who resides at Rose Place was remanded after threatening to “blow out” a farmer’s head. Rasharma Pollard appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’...
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    From the Courts, News
    Court grants father’s request for jail time for his son
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    A father’s request was granted when his son, who had pointed a gun at him, was imprisoned. Simon Simmons appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court ...
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    News
    Cervical cancer initiative launched in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented and even eliminated, provided that countries strengthen their vaccination, screening, ...
    Prayer sustains woman  caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    News
    Prayer sustains woman caring for her husband who has Alzheimer’s Disease
    Webmaster 
    September 30, 2025
    The world recognized Alzheimer’s Day on September, 21, 2025, but for the Muhammad family, of Largo Height, Alzheimer’s is an everyday reality that is ...
    Librarian and Poet uses  spoken-word as a relief Valve
    News
    Librarian and Poet uses spoken-word as a relief Valve
    Webmaster 
    September 26, 2025
    Often times, people’s struggles, insecurities, physical issues and inner pain are masked by an exterior that looks strong, poised and well put togethe...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok