Following a high level meeting on Wednesday June 11, 2014, it was agreed that the Corinth Secondary School will be closed temporarily to allow for the demolition of a wooden wing of the institution which has become infested with mould and termites.
Last week teachers at the school staged protest action in the form of a sickout, disallowing any formal classes to continue. The mould they say, was taking a negative toll on their health, making them unable to perform their duties effectively.
The mould and termite infestation had been an area of concern at the school now for months, school principal Willard Andrew told the STAR last week. Following a meeting with the Ministry of Education four weeks ago it was agreed that the 27-year old wooden wing, the source of the problem, would be closed, and that the school would operate under a shift system. This, pending the construction of a new school extension, to commence during the summer vacation.
Then on Friday May 30, officials from the Ministries of Education and Infrastructure, the SLTU president, the principal and scientists from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) met. Samples of the mould were taken for further tests and a recommendation was made to bleach down the school. The meeting agreed that the results of the tests would dictate how the demolition of the wooden structure would proceed.
However come the following Monday, teachers were dissatisfied with the cleanup by the contractors who had the task of bleaching down the building. Their recourse was to go on a sickout.
During Wednesday’s meeting teachers were apprised of the test by CARPHA, which the STAR has learnt revealed that several types of mould existed within the compound. It was inconclusive, however, whether any was toxic. And so the green light was given for the go ahead of the demolition of the wing.
The demolition was due to commence Friday afternoon and is expected to last an entire week. The Ministry of Education has advised that all form 3 students of the Corinth Secondary School writing the CCSLC exams will now do so at the Gros Islet Secondary School. The exams are scheduled for June 16-18th 2014.
