Dear Editor

Last Friday, March 13, was a day of havoc and panic for many students in the Corporate Area and St Catherine. A number of schools had to close early due to the smoke nuisance from the Riverton landfill. The confusion at some schools clearly spoke to the poor leadership of some of our schools, as well as, the unpreparedness of our schools in the event of a natural disaster.

According to reports from the fire department, the fire at the Riverton dump is expected to take another six days to extinguish. This would clearly mean that primary school children sitting the annual Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scheduled for this week would be severely impacted. GSAT is a very important test as it detemines one’s transition to high school.

The Ministry of Education has been silent on this possible crisis. All stakeholders in education, as well as the general public, need to know what contingency measures are in place in the event that schools are forced to close on the days of the GSAT. The public needs to know what contingencies are in place for those students who may miss the GSAT due to exposure last Friday and are attending to health issues brought on by the contact with the smoke which blanketed most of the area last Friday. We don’t want a crisis on our hands; leaders must lead.

Wayne Campbell

www.wayaine.blogspot.com

@WayneCamo