After showing up on the first day of school yesterday, students at Uriah McPhee Primary School on Kemp Road had to return home because the school's air conditioning unit was not turned on due to construction debris not being cleared, according to Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin.

Hanna-Martin added that classroom furniture had also not been put in place.

"The only issue that we had that I'm aware of is Uriah McPhee Primary School where it was not construction or repairs or anything of that nature, but to do with clearing and putting chairs and desks in place, and the air conditioning not being on because those issues had not happened.

"The issue of cleaning from the construction works became an issue and the air conditioning shouldn't come on. So those students had to go back home, which is very disappointing to me.

"That's most unfortunate and it's something we had hoped we would not have to face. So those parents and students will return tomorrow. They would not have been able to be integrated in class today. It's not construction or anything of that nature. It's just the administrative issue of cleaning. By tomorrow, they'll be back in class.

"I asked the parents to keep the faith. We apologize because we've tried very hard to ensure there are no interruptions of getting children back into school, but there [are] some administrative gaps that happened at that school that we became aware of this morning. But tomorrow, we'll be able to get students back. I think they've been informed as to how they will come. They will come in a phased orientation and they'll get back in the classroom."

Public schools opened yesterday with some focusing on new student orientation.

"Some schools have chosen to orientate the coming-in grades," Hanna-Martin said.

"So at C.H. Reeves, grade seven is there to orientate the new students. They came from various primary schools - Sadie Curtis, E.P. Roberts, Cleveland Eneas; so they've set aside a day to orientate them."

Hanna-Martin also confirmed that R.M. Bailey High School opened, adding that she could not provide an update on a pavilion where a roof collapsed while it was under construction.

"The sooner the better that they allow that project to be completed, we'll be very happy. R.M. Bailey needs that pavilion. But the Ministry of Works will be able to give you more detail as to the technical components of it," she said.

"We had one or two little kinks, but other than that, the primary purpose is being effected. They're in school, the classes are ready, and getting ready to do what has to be done for these young people."

The post 'One or two kinks' but smooth start to new school year appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

The post 'One or two kinks' but smooth start to new school year appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.

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