ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean has announced that all schools that were still closed due to the effects of Tropical Storm Erika, will reopen on Monday.

Saint Jean, however said classes will resume on a shift system.

In making the announcement on the radio show Focus on Government and Development Education, the minister said eight schools in some of the hardest hit communities remained closed, weeks after the storm lashed the island.

 “We had to make a number of adjustments and modifications because there were some communities that still are without pipe borne water,” Saint Jean stated, adding that with the help of the Dominica Water and Sewage Company (DOWASCO) water storage tanks were procured and these have been set up at some schools without pipe borne water.

“We will see schools like Salisbury, Coulibistrie, Dublanc back on track,” Saint Jean noted.

The shift system, he explained, will see two schools operate in one building at different times.

One session will begin at 8:00 in the morning and end at 12.30 in the afternoon, while the other one begins 1:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm.

Transportation will be provided for all students.

Following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, several schools were closed. The storm rampaged the island killing more than 30 people and causing an estimated EC$600 million (EC$1 =US$0.37) in widespread destruction.