Petrina Francis and Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writers

Monteith

Hundreds of students from three schools across the island were sent home yesterday after classes were disrupted for several reasons, including the poor condition at one institution.

Classes were suspended at the Cascade Primary and Junior High School in Portland, after the gates of the institution were padlocked by angry parents who said the physical condition at the school was in a deplorable state.

Littered with faeces

The Gleaner toured the school and observed a grade six classroom, which was littered with animal faeces, a leaking roof, a home economics room heavily infested by mice and roaches and an unsecured computer laboratory.

"The padlocking of the gate at the school was done to send a signal to the Ministry of Education, that we are tired of the false promises and foolishness," lamented Patricia Vera, a parent.

"The environment at the school is not conducive to learning, as the deplorable conditions have made life difficult for teachers and students," she added.

Beryl Jangalee, director of Region Two in the Ministry of Education and Youth told the Gleaner/Power 106 News that she was unaware of the parents' concerns. but said an investigation would be conducted in the matter.

Poor roads

Meanwhile, furious parents at the Bois Content All-Age, St. Catherine padlocked the gates to the institution to protest against the poor state of the roadway leading to the school.

"Nobody knows who have the keys, parents are saying if there is no response come Monday, the gate will be locked again," said Leslie McCalla, board chairman of the institution.

He added: "The Government cannot have a school and people have no road to walk on."

Two weeks ago, classes were suspended for three days after teachers stayed off the job in a show of protest against the poor condition of the road.

The Ministry of Education and Youth then hinted that it would be deducting monies from the teachers' salary but the Jamaica Teachers' Association said it would resist any such attempt.

Mr. McCalla said a meeting was held at the school last week and parents took a decision to take the matter into their hands. Up to 2:00 p.m yesterday the gate to the school was still locked. Senator Noel Monteith, State Minster in the Education Ministry said his ministry was in discussion with the parish council, noting that it was estimated that it would cost approximately $3 million to fix the road.

Lack of water

And students at the Jessie Ripoll Primary School, Kingston, were sent home yesterday because of a lack of water at the institution.

Michael Brown, principal of the school, told The Gleaner that parents were advised to pick up their children as there was no running water at the school since 10:00 a.m. yesterday. He also noted that there was no water at the school last Saturday.