Munro College prepares for delayed start to school

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

September 2 will mark a premature start to the new school year for many schools still grappling with the residual effects of Hurricane Beryl.

 

Some school administrators in the southern and central sections of the country, including Cross Keys High in Manchester, say they are about 80 per cent ready for the September 2 timeline.

 

But for Munro College in St. Elizabeth, one of the schools categorised as severely damaged, that target is out of reach.

 

Principal Dr. Mark Smith said repairs are about 60 per cent complete, and administrators and stakeholders are working overtime to have a phased reopening, starting the following week. 

 

"Every now and then, we're having bad weather, it's not a lot, but every  week we may lose a one day or half day [of repair work]...so that has kinda created a little bit of anxiety. But we're moving ahead quite well, and if everything goes according to plan, we should be opened on the 9th [of September] for first formers...then we will have our second and third, and fourth and fifth [formers] later in the week," he disclosed.

 

He said full reopening is scheduled for September 16. 

  

According to the principal, there will be no online classes for those who will be out of school until September 16. 

 

"We learnt alot from the pandemic," he said, arguing that online school "widens the learning gap between those who come from high income households and low income households, as well as those who are slower compared to those who are faster". 

 

As a result, he said the decision was taken that it would reap better returns to delay the start of school and recoup the lost days later in the year. 

 

Dr. Smith added that despite the extended power outage following Hurricane Beryl, he anticipates that students will remain compliant with the school's dress code policy, due to their high level of discipline and regard for the institution.

?????