‘I am sick and tired of this’
Falling termites plague St Mary school
ISLINGTON, St Mary — Termites falling from rain-soaked ceilings are making life difficult for educators and pupils of Water Valley Primary School.
“I am sick and tired of this. Rain is now falling and the classrooms are getting wet,” Principal Hyacinth Gayle said as she pointed to one section of a grade four classroom.
It is one of three infested by termites. The affected classrooms are used by students preparing to do the already-stressful Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.
“The termites are falling on the teachers’ and students’ heads and clothes, which has surely become uncomfortable for them,” Gayle told the Jamaica Observer.
She said the school struggled with this problem even before she became principal and it has remained unaddressed even though she has repeatedly sought help from the Ministry of Education.
“A building officer came to the school before school restarted, but we were told that no money was granted to do such a project,” said Gayle.
Her plan is to have classes in the school’s auditorium, but she knows this is just a temporary fix to a huge problem.
One parent whose child will move up to grade four next year is hoping the issues will be fixed by then.
“I hope he doesn’t get a termite classroom. If he gets one, I will have to find a new school for him. I’m not going to let him stay under that condition,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified by name.
She is worried that the relevant authorities have abandoned the school.
“Sometimes I wonder why the Government treats this school so badly. The classroom dem a eat down and a leak and they can’t give assistance. Big September morning and dem have to face this. This bad; a real nightmare this,” she said.
The parent praised the support provided by the Parent Teachers Association and past students’ association, which she credited with most of the beautification of the school. She said they recently patched a section of road leading to the school.
Now, like Principal Gayle, the concerned mother is waiting for the State to do the rest.
