Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
ALMOST TWO weeks since the start of the 2005/2006 school year, the Mountainside Primary School in St. Elizabeth is yet to be reopened to all the students. At the institution, classes are only opened to grades six and four.
When Across the Nation visited the institution yesterday, workmen contracted to the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) were seen trying to complete repair work on the roof as well as other sections of the main building.
Principal of the school, Mrs. Glandville Smallings, said she was eager to restart classes with the entire school population. She said she will be very resolute with the contractor because "it is either they finish the work or they're out of here by next Monday."
"I don't intend to wait beyond next Monday to restart classes with the entire school population, and whether or not the contractor completes the work, full operation will begin on Monday, and I will be sticking to that decision," Mrs. Smallings said. "We cannot afford to waste any more time out of the new school year."
Efforts to reach Mr. Danville Walker of the ONR for a comment were futile.
GRADES SIX AND FOUR IN OPERATION
The principal also explained that while she was eager to have the entire school in operation, grades six and four are two of the most critical batches of students in the institution and she was happy to restart classes with these groups of students.
In the meanwhile, the work being undertaken at the school includes replacing the entire roof, the electrical wiring, as well as performing other infrastructual work at the institution.
