Classes suspended at school in St Mary over flooded roadway

Face-to-face classes have been suspended at Baxter’s Mountain Primary School in St Mary due to a flooded roadway leading into the community.

Heavy rainfall, which started last week Friday, forced the abandonment of face-to-face classes on Monday and Tuesday, resulting in a decision to implement online teaching, which, according to Principal Sherene Harris, poses challenges for some students.

According to Harris, on Wednesday, with the easing of the heavy rains, a number of students returned to school, but shortly after, a decision was made to suspend classes as the Wag Water river was in spate and threatened to overflow the ford leading to the school.

“We have basically missed four days of face-to-face classes for this week and it is simply not good. A week is a lot of time loss, especially for those who are doing the PEP [Primary Exit Profile] exam," she commented.

“We are expecting more rainfall and we have to take the necessary precaution. We are operating remotely and parents are aware and they would have gotten the data for students. Classes are being held online for the time being due to the flooding of the roadway at the ford, which is affecting the movement of students, teachers, and people from the community," she added.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for the area Dr Norman Dunn admitted that the challenge faced by the school population along with residents is a serious one that needs to be addressed.

“The ford was constructed as a temporary measure to allow the school population and residents to get in and out of the community during heavy rainfall," commented Dunn.

“So the ford was a temporary measure when I became MP, as a wooden bridge, which provided access, fell into disrepair. It needs to be addressed as students and community residents are inconvenienced whenever it rains. I am aware of the challenges facing the community and I will see how best it can be resolves in the shortest possible time," he added. 

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