Though many school administrators in the eastern Jamaica parish of Portland have reported readiness for the new academic year, overcrowding continues to plague institutions.

Just ask Joan Grant, who told The Gleaner last week that her daughter, who successfully sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), was placed at a school in Oracabessa, St Mary, more than 40 miles away from home.

Hers is one of mounting complaints by several parents and guardians from Rio Grande Valley who have strongly criticised the placement process.

Grant explained that there is no way she could afford to send her daughter to school in another parish, as she can barely find food to put on the table.

"I don't even know where Oracabessa is. I have heard the name before, but I do not know how or where to find it," she said.

"I am a domestic helper and I do washing once or twice weekly. There is no way I can come up with the money for travelling, lunch money and books."

Schools overcrowded

The woman said she had contacted the Ministry of Education's regional office, seeking a transfer for her child, but was experiencing difficulty as many schools are overcrowded.

At least six other students from Mill Bank and Moore Town in the upper Rio Grande Valley have been placed at schools in St Mary, St Ann and St Thomas.

Meantime, the Port Antonio High School, which was originally built to accommodate 600 students, is operating a shift system to cope with a ballooning student population of 1,700.

Administrators there say they have in place contingency plans to alleviate the shortfall or glitches.

A vice-principal at the school, Joan Thompson, explained that teachers were adequately prepared for the start of the new school year, which begins on September 7. She said, however, that the school was in need of five additional classrooms to achieve optimal learning conditions.

"We are also accommodating students who sat the Grade Nine Achievement Test," she said.

"Our main concern at this time is space, as we are overcrowded. We are 95 per cent ready as it is and we are presently winding down on major cleaning up and painting of the school."

Shift system

The VP explained that the school was forced to implement a shift system for the first time since 1973, as the student population had outgrown the classroom space. She, however, pointed out that, over the years, the Ministry of Education built additional classrooms, which accommodated the shift system.

Similar woes are being experienced at Boundbrook Primary, which had its orientation of grade one students on Monday.

Boundbrook vice-principal Sonja Miller said the school, which was built to accommodate 300 students, now serves more than 700.

"The shift system is very challenging," she said. "We do not have a holding area for students at the school and that presents real problems at times.

"Whenever it rains, those who come in for the afternoon shift oftentimes get wet, as they are exposed to the elements. However, we managed to build two additional classrooms some years ago, but earned the wrath of the ministry for doing so. But we are prepared for Monday's start."

Administrators at other Portland schools such as Titchfield High, Port Antonio Primary and Happy Grove High have hinted that they are prepared for the start of the new school year.