Smooth reopening of schools reported so far

By Nakinskie Robinson/Kimone Witter   

 

Up to early Monday morning, Education Minister Fayval Williams said there were no reports of disruptions to the reopening of schools.

 

Minister Williams, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness were at the Half Way Tree Transport Centre on Monday morning from where they experienced firsthand the commute for students and parents from Half Way Tree to Papine via the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.

 

The trio went on to tour and address first form students at Jamaica College.

 

Minister Williams said she will be tracking the progress of schools islandwide. 

 

"It's the first day of the new school year and children all across Jamaica are making their way to school. Many of the schools are along the route that we're travelling now, JC, Mona High, Mona Heights Primary going up all the way to Papine High School and so on, many schools. So, so far this morning it has been smooth. Early in the morning yet, but we haven't had any reports of issues and we will get a round-up of all the schools by 9 o'clock and we'll know how the day is going," she said. 

 

Efforts to contact Minister Williams for a further progress update were unsuccessful up to news time.

 

The smooth start to the new academic year excludes those schools, mostly across southern parishes that were severely damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

 

They are expected to reopen at a later date.

 

Private contracts have so far been issued to speed up repairs.

 

Minister Williams has indicated that some schools will have to use temporary accommodation at churches and other facilities while the repairs are being carried out. 

 

Meanwhile, Stewart Jacobs, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, is anticipating that the displacement of students and teachers due to some schools in southern parishes still undergoing repairs, will not be for an extended period.

 

"The authorities have done quite a bit with the collaboration of the PTA's in the schools and school administration to fix these schools. Additionally, those buildings that will not be erected in time to house children, there will have tents and temporary areas for them to have schools. So, that interruption is not going to be long and it's not going to be too adverse," he suggested. 

 

  

Still, Mr. Jacobs is concerned about the increase in back-to-school expenses facing parents and guardians.

 

He also expects that they will have to dole out more for transportation and meals. 

 

"There's a real concern, because we're talking about a 25% increase in back-to-school spend over last year, year over year. And when we look at the reality this year also, it's going to cost about $1500 per child to go to school per day, that's $7500 per week; that's about $30,000 per month and $280,000 per year."

 

He warned that the cost of lunches will increase as it is common practice for marketers and distributors to "increase their prices just about end of July-August, knowing that there's going to be a demand for their products in September". 

 

Mr. Jacobs was speaking Monday on TVJ's Smile Jamaica.