Minister: Schools to open in six weeks

Education and Culture Minister Myron Walwyn said Thursday that public primary and secondary schools will open within six weeks.

When they do, he added, they might operate on a shift system, with some students attending from 8 a.m. to noon and other students attending from 1-5 p.m. in order to make the best possible use of the surviving facilities.

“We’ve sent a team out already to look at the damage to the schools and see what works need to be done,” he said.

Some schools suffered minimal damage and should be usable soon, including Althea Scatliffe Primary, Ivan Dawson Primary, Alexandrina Maduro Primary, Joyce Samuel Primary and Willard Wheatley Primary, according to the minister.

At the Elmore Stoutt High School, he said, the structure remains, though it needs windows and doors.

He also plans to use the new library facilities at the former Clarence Thomas Limited building to house students, he said, adding that 12^th graders, who are preparing for examinations, will get priority.

Asked if high school students would be housed in primary school facilities, he replied, “Everything is on the table.”

In the meantime, education officials will be assessing staffing resources.

“We have a relatively large percentage of teachers that are not from here we need to find out what they’re going to do—whether they’re going to stay or go,” he said.

As of Thursday, principals were assessing their school’s teacher numbers, Mr. Walwyn said, adding that the plan may have to be altered “depending on whether or not we have the persons who can deliver the content.”

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