CORAL SPRING, Trelawny — As the new school year looms, Lowe River Primary and Infant School Principal Ancel Palmer is expressing concern over a long-standing termite infestation which, he says, has affected every classroom in the southern Trelawny institution and contributed to serious health issues among staff.

Palmer, who oversees a student population of about 430, said the problem has persisted for more than a decade.

“Termite infestation is one of my greatest concerns,” he told the Jamaica Observer during a telephone interview Thursday.

The entrance to Lowe River Primary and Infant School in Trelawny

“I have two teachers who have serious health issues because of the termites. Every class is infested. Roofs are infested. And some of the other board structures have been infested as well,” he added.

Palmer first raised the matter on Wednesday during a question-and-answer session on the final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) 62nd Annual General Conference at Ocean Coral Spring hotel in Trelawny.

He thanked the Ministry of Education for providing termite treatment at the school after years of requests, but said the problem returned within months. He said the person who did the treatment recommended that the school’s roofs be replaced, as the infestation was affecting its structures.

Responding to Palmer during the conference, Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon acknowledged the problem and that treatment alone may not be sufficient in some cases.

Lowe River Primary and Infant School, which has been plagued by termites for more than a decade.

“You’re correct. It can be the roof. It can sometimes be the partitions that are used in the classroom,” the minister said.

She pointed to Falmouth Primary School at which partitions are being removed as part of repair work because termites were found living in them.

“Even when we did the treatment, the termites came back. So we are aware of that, and so that’s going to need more infrastructure change for us to really get on top of that issue with the termites,” the minister said.

During her presentation, Morris Dixon announced that $100 million has been allocated in the current financial year for termite treatment in schools, with 71 of them set to receive significant treatment.

“Termites are a problem, and I’ve seen it in many regions. I think the one I’ve seen it in the most is Region Seven. It seems worse there, but it’s across the board where we have termite issues,” she said.

Although Lowe River Primary sustained minimal damage from Hurricane Melissa last October, Palmer said the termite infestation remains a more pressing issue. With the ministry indicating that some schools will require infrastructure changes in addition to termite treatment, Palmer is hoping the issue at Lowe River will receive the attention needed to bring the protracted infestation under control.