West Kingston schools still closed
Published:Monday | May 31, 2010 | 12:00 AM
MANY schools in west Kingston will remain closed today after a week of violent clashes between armed thugs and members of the security forces.
Students from Kingston Technical, St Andrew Technical, Charlie Smith and Trench Town high schools who are sitting Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examina-tions will do so at the Overseas Examinations Commission.
"We're working to see how the situation goes and we're monitoring day by day," said director of communications at the ministry of education, Colin Blair.
Blair was unable to say when all schools may reopen.
Since the state of public emergency limited to Kingston and St Andrew was put into effect last Sunday, schools in violence-affected areas of Kingston and St Andrew have shut their doors, forcing students to other locations to sit their CSEC examinations.
The education spokesman said the ministry was unable to determine how students' learning may be affected at this time.
But Jamaica Teachers' Association President Michael Stewart said he is concerned about the students' safety and their education.
"We're quite saddened that the situation hasn't been sta-bilised sufficiently because we've missed a significant number of days," he said.
Stewart also emphasised the importance of counselling for both teachers and students who may be traumatised.
The Ministry of Education, according to Blair, is considering different means to help com-pensate for learning and security setbacks.
"We're looking at different measures so that students can return to their lives," the ministry spokesman said.
While the education ministry is looking into counselling, Blair noted that it was still early and he couldn't discuss other actions the ministry may take at this time.
The education ministry is asking parents to use their discretion when determining how safe it is for their children to attend school or take part in other school-related activities.