Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
Within an hour of dropping off their children at the Palmyra Hindu SDMS Primary School on the first day of the school year, parents/guardians had to quickly return as a rat infestation forced a shutdown of the institution.
There was caution tape blocking the entrance to the Standard Five class when Guardian Media visited, and an inspection team wearing face masks was on the compound. While school officials declined to comment, parents said they learned that the school has rats and that pupils and staff were told to return home.
With no timeframe on when Public Health officials would clear the school for reopening, teachers and parents discussed continuing classes online for a month. However, they said this is subject to Ministry of Education (MoE) approval.
Anjanie Bahadur said some parents knew about the rat sighting at the school since last term. However, they thought the MoE would have used the school holiday period to undertake the necessary work to make the school safe. Bahadur said last week during orientation, teachers realised the infestation was still active.
“Our kids are writing SEA, so we are not too happy about it. We do not want to go back, like in COVID-19, to online classes, when children would have fallen back. You want them to have face-to-face classes. It is something I think the ministry should have dealt with before school closing,” Bahadur said.
Another parent, Steven Ramroop, said it was displeasing that the MoE had two months to remedy the infestation but the rats were still there. Ramroop said parents were not allowed to see the classroom and did not know when the school would reopen.
Some parents said children were looking forward to reconnecting with their friends and teachers yesterday.
Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said a report submitted by the principal stated that upon the initial sighting of evidence of rat infestation in July, the school contacted the Princes Town Regional Corporation’s (PTRC) Health Department. Public health personnel visited the school on August 8, 15 and 26 and baited the affected areas. On August 26, health personnel informed the school that they could not bait again until three weeks had passed. The team inspected the school on August 27 and all appeared well. However, when the staff reported for duty on August 29, a stench emanated from one of the rooms in the school’s annex. The principal contacted a Public Health Inspector the following day to report the situation and requested a visit.
“She advised that all that was necessary was done and that the school be sanitised. On Saturday, August 31, 2024, a private contractor fumigated the classrooms. On Sunday, 1 September, classrooms were cleaned and sanitised. On Monday, 2 September, the stench was again observed,” Gadsby-Dolly said.
She said MoE officials are currently liaising with the PTRC to take further steps to address the matter, and the decisions taken will be communicated to all parents.