DESPITE structural damage to some schools, and concerns over a promise of free tuition by Prime Minister-designate Bruce Golding, classes in the hurricane-ravaged section of South Clarendon went ahead with only a few hitches yesterday.

Although a number of buildings in the fishing village of Rocky Point were devastated by Hurricane Dean, the Salt Savannah Primary School suffered minimal damage and, according to school officials, classes would be held as usual for the estimated 300 students expected to attend.

“We were not damaged and we should be alright,” Loreen Ludford, who teaches at the only primary school in the community, said. “We have no problem with tuition fees as we fall under the ministry, (of education).”

The Rocky Point community was severely battered by the category four hurricane and its effect was felt at Galilee Basic School which lost its entire roof.

The school’s roof was replaced by charity organisation, Food For The Poor, on Saturday and, according to principal Philebert Maxwell, the assistance facilitated an easier start to the school year for the approximately 90 students who were expected to attend.

“We are off and running, thanks to Food For The Poor,” Maxwell told the Observer.

Despite damage to the bathrooms and canteen at the Portland Cottage All-Age School, which has about 930 students aged between six and 15, students poured into the compound before the school bell tolled at 8:30 am.

As the students eagerly entered the school compound, workmen pounded nails into zinc on top of the two structures.

“Don’t care how the struggle dreadful, the youths dem must go to school. We must live in Portland Cottage,” a male parent, who transported his son to school on a bicycle, said.

The Portland Cottage All-Age is the only school in the community, according to residents.

Most of the school-age students in both communities who do not find places at the Portland Cottage All-Age School and the Salt Savannah Primary attend the Watsonton Primary, Alley Primary, Bustamante High or Kemps Hill High Schools in the parish,

At the Bustamante High School, devotion was in full gear when the Observer got there. “We will be in operation as of today,” a teacher said.

The situation was the same at the Watsonton Primary School which is next door to the Bustamante High. However, several parents were seen with their children in tow outside the school building as students headed towards their classrooms.

Headmistress of 36 years, Helen Williams, was, however, upbeat that the kinks would be ironed out.

“We are up and running. The children must be educated,” she said.

Watsonton Primary also suffered damage as the roof of the administrative block was blown away by powerful winds associated with Hurricane Dean.

Classes also went well at the St Margaret Mary Basic, Hayes High and the newly-built Foga Road High School, where a security guard said his instructions were to bar media workers from entry.