Classes off, exams on

All basic, infant, primary and high schools in Kingston proper will be closed today until further notice, the Ministry of Education said last night.

However, the Overseas Exami-nations Commission (OEC) has said that all examinations - CSEC, GCE and University of London - scheduled to be held today will be held as timetabled.

However, candidates who have been registered to sit exams in the following centres should go to the OEC, using the Manhattan Road entrance (across from the entrance to the National Water Commission).

Charlie Smith High

Kingston College

Vauxhall High

Trench Town High

Kingston High

National Academy

Pentecostal Tabernacle

Emanuel Apostolic

National Academy

Exam venues have been changed for other schools as follows:

Candidates from Kingston Technical High and St Andrew Technical High should report to The Mico University College, Marescaux Road;

All private candidates scheduled to sit at East Queen Street Baptist Church should go to The Mico University College, Marescaux Road;

Candidates from St George's College should go back to Ardenne High;

Candidates writing CSEC examinations from Excelsior High and EXED Community College should report to Holy Childhood High;

Candidates writing CAPE examinations from Excelsior High and EXED Community College should report to The Mico University College;

Examinations will remain at Camperdown High.

Those candidates who are unable to reach Camperdown should go to the OEC, while other candidates who are not able to report to their centres should go to the nearest centre.

The Ministry of Education has asked that school officials and examination supervisors make every effort to be available to facilitate the smooth running of the examinations.

Meanwhile, the OEC is reporting that the transferral of students from examination centres in volatile areas to other locations went well.

Head of the commission, Hector Stephenson, said about 98 per cent of the students transferred to alternative examination centres turned up today.

Wolmer's Boys', Wolmer's Girls', Holy Childhood High, St Hugh's High and Ardenne High schools will only be open to accommodate students who will sit exams.

Protect kids, stage special exams - Clarke

Children's Advocate Mary Clarke appealed for parents to protect their children amid raging gun battles across western Kingston which have wracked up many law-enforcement and civilian casualties.

Clarke said last night that guidance counsellors, victim-support personnel and other agencies of the state should gear up to offer comfort when violence wanes in the capital.

"They (the children) are being damaged badly and need lots of comfort and assurance," said Clarke, while explaining that the psychological damage to kids might be severe.

She also urged relevant ministries to start putting measures in place to reach "these children for their restoration".

"I'm also asking the Ministry of Education and the overseas examination body to seriously consider having special examinations for children in the affected areas."

Clarke also called for counselling for adults in war-torn zones of the city.