Smooth Re-Opening of Schools in the West

There was a smooth re-opening of schools this week in the Ministry of Education’s Region Four, which covers the parishes of St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland.
Only three schools – Petersville All-Age in Westmoreland, Askenish All-Age in Hanover and Orange Hill Primary in St. James – are still facing difficulties from the effects of Hurricane Ivan, and have to be using creative methods to facilitate the holding of classes.
“The schools are reporting that all is basically well. Despite whatever difficulties they are encountering, they are moving ahead with the business of education,” Acting Director in Region Four, Vilma Blair told JIS News.
She said that Petersville All-Age, Askenish All-Age and Orange Hill Primary schools were still operating in temporary alternative buildings.
Meanwhile, Building Officer in Region Four, Marlon Grinion told JIS News that his department has been given some 26 schools within the region to carry out post Hurricane Ivan repairs, through assistance from the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR).
He noted that work has begun on nine of those schools and within the next two to three weeks, work would begin on another 10 schools. He pointed out that an average of about $700,000 was being spent on each school.
Mr. Grinion said that post Hurricane Ivan repairs were being done on the schools through the ONR, with the Building Department of the Ministry of Education implementing some of the work, while monitoring the work being carried out by other agencies and companies. He said that the schools being worked on by his department should be completed by March this year.