CLASSES resumed at Calabar High School yesterday following three days of closure due to rat infestation, with the school community stating its resolve to prevent a recurrence of the circumstances leading to the embarrassing lockdown.

A meeting between principal Dr Lincoln Thaxter, staff and students agreed that all stakeholders will ensure that the school premises are kept clean of garbage and overgrowth that led to it becoming overrun with vermin.

A source at the Ministry of Education told the Observer that Dr Thaxter was to make a full report to the ministry on the steps taken by the school to prevent a recurrence.

“He (Dr Thaxter) stressed that it would not be business as usual in terms of the disposal of solid waste and the need for all students and staff to be alert and on the lookout for any sign (of rats),” the education spokesperson said.

Efforts to speak with the principal and dean of discipline were unsuccessful as both were in meetings or did not respond to phone calls.

Meanwhile, minister of local government and community development Noel Arscott said he had put together a multi-agency team including representatives from Ministry of Health, the National Solid Waste Management Authority, and Local Government Ministry to take a comprehensive look at the problem of garbage collection.

He said a public education programme would be developed on the issue, hopefully by the end of the month.

Arscott also chided Calabar for not taking care of its local surroundings which contributed to the rat problem.

“From what I was told there was a basic (garbage collection) programme in place but Calabar was not a part of it, and therefore the rats migrated from elsewhere into Calabar,” he said.

“This (rat infestation) is not a new matter, it is a perennial matter in the Corporate Area and we need to be on it continuously. The citizens need to understand that when you put food in your waste you are feeding the rats,” he said.

Commenting on the situation, opposition spokeswoman on education Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert called on the Government to address the problem of garbage collection in the Corporate Area.

“The rat infestation at Calabar could well be part of a wider problem in the Corporate Area. Although it is accepted that the school has a responsibility to meet public health standards, the Government must address the breakdown of garbage collection in the Corporate Area. Our schools may well be fighting a losing battle and the people who are most vulnerable are our children,” she said.

Dalrymple-Philibert also called on the education ministry to state what policy was in place for schools to make up for days lost to incidents such as that at Calabar.

“We are in a country where hurricane and storms can happen at any time, and the Government must have a policy to address circumstances like these,” she said.

Calabar had already stated that it would extend the school term to make up for the lost days.