Education Ministry monitoring unrest in Spanish Town
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Dr Dana Morris Dixon says her ministry will know by 5 am Friday whether students in certain areas of Spanish Town in St Catherine can return to school amid violent unrest in the area.
“It’s a really unfortunate day because many of our children are already behind, every day that’s away from school is a day away from learning and development,” she told Observer Online while speaking at the opening of the Seventh Grade Academy Programme at Holy Trinity High School on Thursday.
Several schools including St Jago High School, Homestead Primary, Eltham Park Primary, St Catherine High School, and Burmar Academy had to close for the day due to the violent flare-up over the killing of an alleged leader of the notorious One Order Gang.
Other schools, including Ardenne High in St Andrew, had to close early to release students and staff who live in and around Spanish Town, allowing them to get home early.
Morris-Dixon said barring a calmer environment come Friday, affected schools would be forced to move online.