Devon Evans and Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Gleaner Writers

Ocho Rios, St Ann:

The Ocho Rios Primary School, which was forced to close down temporarily on Thursday, is still unable to reopen for classes. When The Gleaner visited the school yesterday, it was clear that more work was still required before classes can resume.

The school was flooded last Thursday during the heavy rainfall which lashed the resort town and adjoining districts.

Badly affected

Principal of the school, Herman Grant, said the nearly 2,000 students will have to remain at home until Wednesday when it is expected that classes will be able to resume.

Grant reported that the school was badly affected by the flood rains which dumped tonnes of stones, mud and debris on the compound.

He said four classrooms were flooded, in addition to the teachers' cottage and that damage was also done to the school yard and a quantity of books in the reading room.

Grant said the cleanup of the school took place on the weekend through the assistance of Member of Parliament, Shahine Robinson, members of the fire brigade and residents of the community, and that the classrooms were being disinfected to ensure the safety of the students from any disease.

At Parry Town Primary, pipes washed away by the rains left many homes and schools in the area with little or no water.

However, Principal Claudette Forsythe said she was confident the Rapid Response team would provide the school with water soon.

"I hear that political representatives have since toured the areas. I think some aid by the Red Cross was given to some of the persons affected," she said.

Although Forsythe's school was not damaged by the rains last week, it is feeling the after effects of the floods, as some of her students reportedly live in the informal settlements nearby.

Christopher Dabidad, principal of Beacher Town All-age Primary, a few miles away from Parry Town Primary, said his school did not suffer any structural damage.

Nevertheless, access from neighbouring Hinds Town and Epport have been limited due to the severe road damage caused by water erosion and poor drainage.

Attendance impacted

Dabidad said of the flooding: "It has affected our attendance in class, from Thursday last week. On Friday, only five kids turned up to class and two teachers. Most of the kids come from these communities and so were unable to attend."

At Ocho Rios Primary, the principal said the school staff held a meeting yesterday to assess the situation and would be meeting again today to determine whether the school can reopen tomorrow.