By Monique Hepburn, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
ATTENDANCE AT educational institutions in St. Elizabeth's farming communities is expected to fall significantly if schools reopen tomorrow.
Educators are predicting that children will stay home to assist parents to replant crops damaged by Hurricane Ivan.
"We are hoping that schools will open on Monday but we suspect that we will see staggered attendance. Farming is an important part of the lives of the people in this section of the island and they are eager to get their farms going again," said Rueben Gray, Regional Director of the Ministry of Education.
Mr. Gray was addressing civic, community and business leaders at the Gleaner Editors' Forum held at the Junction Guest House in St. Elizabeth on Friday.
"Seventy per cent of the schools in the parish were badly hit and damages range from $400,000 to $4 million," said Mr. Gray.
Three of St. Elizabeth's foremost learning institutions, Munro College, Hampton School and Bethlehem Moravian College have suffered extensive structural damage due to Hurricane Ivan.
THE WAY FORWARD
All principals in the parish will meet at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday in order to chart the way forward after Hurricane Ivan.
"Where we find that parents are contending with problems, we are going to have challenges and so we want to meet with the Parent Teachers' Associations as well," Mr. Gray added.
Currently, in north-west St. Elizabeth, close to 200 persons are being housed in three schools in the New Market area.
Cynthia Hill, field services officer for the Social Development Commission (SDC) told the Gleaner Editors' Forum that the matter needed close attention because schools need to restart and the persons who have sought shelter in them are in urgent need of assistance.
An appeal was made by a Braes River resident on behalf of a family currently being housed in the basic school in the community. "They want to return home but their house does not have a roof. I am asking if anyone could lend a hand to this family," the woman said.
Marc Panton, president of the St. Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, made an instant donation of a tarpaulin to the family.
