Sickened by school

Teachers at the Stony Hill Primary and Infant School in St Andrew yesterday staged a sick-out over leaking roofs and mould infestation, forcing the early suspension of school.

Parents were, as a result, advised yesterday by a memo to pick up their children immediately due to an emergency that had arisen, and further, that the school would not be in session and that work would be sent for the children.

The teachers, however, who were seen huddled at the front of the school, said they had had enough and would not be returning to the classroom until the problem is addressed.

“We have been having a serious problem with the constant leaking and mould in the classes, and the teachers are indeed getting sick all the time. Sinuses, flu, and the children, too. Sometimes you realise that several of them are sick and are absent with respiratory problems.

“So we are saying we are sick and tired of the condition, and we can’t function in this environment anymore,” one teacher said.

The educator said the situation was gravely affecting the teachers’ ability to teach as teachers had to spend time cleaning up their spaces whenever it rained as they could function in a mess.

It is also impacting learning.

“I remember last year I was teaching and a child shouted out ‘I am so tired of this!’ and she took out her umbrella and flew it open because the water was constantly dripping,” the teacher recalled.

“So today, we have decided that enough is enough,” she added.

On a quick tour of the school, what appeared to be mould was observed in several of the classrooms. Water was also seen dripping in the classrooms and corridors, which were messy and had caution signs. The rain was drizzling lightly.

Pointing to the school’s core values, which were written on the wall at the entrance to the classroom, another teacher said, “Our core values are safety, respect, and responsibility, and we feel that we are not provided with any safety, we have not been shown any respect, and the authorities have not taken the responsibility to provide an environment conducive to teaching and learning.”

Reading from two large placards hung near the entrance of the classrooms, the teacher explained that mould had taken over the school and that this had been confirmed by the public health department.

“The roof is leaking and the floors are wet and slippery and last school year, our head boy fell and broke his wrist.

“The teachers are getting sick, the students are getting sick. We have been talking, we have been writing. The board has been informed several times of the matter. The Jamaica Teachers Association was informed, and we feel that our concerns are falling on deaf ears,” she said.

According to her, teachers and students have been suffering from respiratory infections, sinusitis, and flu and have been presenting with a cough, runny noses, and watery eyes as a result of the unhealthy environment.

In the meantime, Principal Shirley Williams was seen busily trying to control the noisy and restive students in different classes as the teachers stayed away from the classes in protest.

Commenting on the situation, she said, “We have been having leaks on the roof and we have been dialoguing with the Ministry of Education since last December.”

She said a technical person had visited the school several times but, because of the rain, the situation has got worse.

The Gleaner sought an official response from the ministry but nothing was received up to last night.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com