Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald.

DESPITE best assurances late last week that officials were prepared to re-open the majority of public schools in the northern Bahamas today, Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald was forced to announce a further delay, with plans now pegging the official return date for students at October 25.

During a press conference at the Ministry of Education’s Thompson Boulevard offices yesterday, Mr. Fitzgerald said all public schools in New Providence, Grand Bahama and North and Central Andros will re-open after the upcoming mid-term break scheduled for Friday, October 21 to Monday, October 24.

Based on the decision, students registered at all institutions in the districts are expected to report to classes next Tuesday.

Mr. Fitzgerald said the decision was made after “careful consideration and consultation” with various stakeholders including Bahamas Power and Light, Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville and district superintendents for the islands.

“At present only 25 per cent of schools in New Providence have power and following our meeting with BPL this morning, based on the feedback we received, only 50 per cent of our 56 public schools should have power restored by end of day (today),” stated the Marathon MP.

Detailing the essential need for power, Mr. Fitzgerald said most if not all public school campuses depend on electrical services to have running water. Because of this, he urged BPL to focus its attention on reconnecting power to these institutions.

He said: “I am urging Bahamas Power and Light to realise that the restoration of power to our schools is essential. We have tens of thousands of students in New Providence whose return to schools depends on BPL’s ability to restore power.”

On Friday the Ministry of Education announced that schools in New Providence would open today, with the exception of Government High and C.I. Gibson Senior High School.

Additionally, schools in Grand Bahama, except the Lewis Yard and Bartlett Hill Primary Schools, and in North Andros, except the Lowe Sound Primary School, were to open on Wednesday, October 19.

Mr. Fitzgerald, however at that time noted that the re-openings in Grand Bahama were contingent on water supplies being restored to schools in that district.

During his address yesterday, Mr. Fitzgerald expressed a level of confidence that next Tuesday would see these matters resolved.

Addressing matters at C.I. Gibson Senior High and Government High School, Mr. Fitzgerald said that “important meetings” for parents of students enrolled at these two schools will be held on Wednesday, October 19 at 6pm, where school administrators will inform parents of the scheduling for students’ return.

Mr. Fitzgerald implored all parents to attend the meetings at the respective schools tomorrow evening.

He made no new announcements on efforts to temporarily relocate students from the Lowe Sound, Lewis Yard and Bartlett Hill Primary Schools in Grand Bahama and Andros.

On Friday he announced plans to temporarily relocate students from the Grand Bahama schools – Lewis Yard and Bartlett Hill – until repairs were carried out at the campuses; and students from the Lowe Sound campus in Andros for the rest of the school year, as that school has been selected for a total reconstruction effort to get underway in the coming months.

The government announced plans earlier this summer to build a new school in the community.

Away from school repairs, Mr. Fitzgerald also used his time on Monday to further sentiments he first raised on Friday, again reminding educators and the public alike, of the mental and emotional toll levelled on students in the wake of Hurricane Matthew and its devastation.

He encouraged parents whose students lost their uniforms and other school supplies as a result of Hurricane Matthew to make good use of Social Services.

Mr. Fitzgerald announced that Social Services Director Melanie Zonicle will give assistance with uniforms, backpacks and other basic supplies to those families in need, after the effects of Matthew.

On Friday he advised administrators to be mindful that some students may have lost personal effects during the storm and encouraged administrators to be sensitive to the circumstances of students, particularly those who may not have any or complete uniforms.

“They are to use good judgment and give some lenience during the next couple of weeks,” Mr. Fitzgerald said.

Schools in Abaco, Acklins, South Andros, Mangrove Cay, Bimini, Cat Island, Crooked Island, Eleuthera, Exuma, Inagua, Long Island, Mayaguana, Ragged Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador – islands not as adversely affected by Matthew’s passage across the Bahamas earlier this month - re-opened last Tuesday, October 11.

Several private schools in New Providence have already returned to normal operations.

By Ricardo Wells, Tribune Staff Reporter

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