Schools estimate $200 million in damages

The education ministry has estimated damage to school infrastructure at $200 million following the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.



Project manager for facilities and infrastructure in the ministry, Claude Stewart, said the ministry has identified about 52 schools that were damaged by the storm.



Mr. Stewart said most of the affected schools are in Portland, St. Thomas and St. Mary.



He said most of the damage resulted from water damage from broken windows and blown off roofs.



He also said access to schools has also been a challenge in areas where there were land slippages.



Fair Prospect Primary in Portland lost the entire roof of one of its buildings and will have to operate on a shift system for this term.



Mr. Stewart is predicting that the school will be able to return to normal operation in the next school term.



Mr. Stewart said the ministry would be putting in place a system for repairing schools.