SHEFFIELD, Westmoreland — Sheffield Primary continues to lose students who have had it with the horrific state of roads leading to the school. It was built to accommodate 600 but now has about 225 enrolled. For the school term that began on Monday, about 15 transferred to nearby schools.

“We have lost some of our students because of the road to get to the school,” Principal Vinnette Malcolm told the Jamaica Observer.

Except for the road, she said, all went smoothly on the first day.

“As you can see, the plant is very beautiful and it is quite appealing but in terms of getting the children here, it is a challenge. So we continue to appeal to the relevant authorities to assist us,” she added.

Malcolm said an appeal was made to political representatives and other agencies, but to no avail.

Taxi operator Lincoln Kerr is also hoping the road will be repaired as it is taking an financial toll on him.

“The road is really bad fi true because the parts them expensive now, trust me,” said Kerr.

In the nearby parish of Hanover, at Rusea’s High School, the fourth oldest secondary institution in Jamaica, there were no complaints about shoddy roads. Students were in high spirits, happy to see each other in the classroom once again. Among them were friends, Kuwenda Griffiths, Camina Williams and Shenay Bloomfield, who will be entering grade nine at the school’s Campus One. Still haunted by memories of how COVID-19 upended the educational system in March 2020, Williams said she was fearful that things may never get back to normal.

A vendor who gave her name as Swearing is hoping all goes well from here on out. She is happy she once again has a reliable way to earn a living.

“It was very difficult because I had nothing to do but lay down on my side,” said the single mother of three, two of whom are in school. She also has seven grandchildren.

“It was really rough but thanks be to God, school reopened even though things are expensive. There is not much profit but it [is] better than staying home,” she added.

Kevon Powell, who works alongside his mother Sherill Griffiths at her stall at the gates of the Green Island High School in Hanover, also said it was difficult for them when schools were shuttered. They diversified into other areas such as fishing and the rearing of chicken during those two years, but he believes things will be better now that school is back in session.

Over at Lucea Primary School, also in Hanover, a vendor who gave her name as Tadine said she had other ways to earn a living and so she had fared better than others when schools were closed. But she was still unable to cover her son’s exam fees. He was therefore not able to sit any subjects and she is now hoping he can learn a skill from HEART/NSTA Trust.

She is nevertheless happy school has resumed because selling snacks from the gates is a faster way to earn a living.