Education Minister announces reopening of schools

 Saint Jean made the announcement on Monday
Saint Jean made the announcement on Monday

All secondary school students should report to school on Wednesday, September 9, while all primary schools will open on Monday, September 14, Education Minister Petter Saint Jean announced on Monday.

However, he said, the Pierre Charles Secondary School and the Dominica Grammar School will be opened for 4th and 5th formers only. First, second and third formers of the two schools will be advised subsequently of the date school will reopen for them.

Although all primary schools will reopen next week Monday, principals and teachers should report to their schools on Wednesday, September 9th 2015, “to begin the planning process.”

Saint Jean stated further that students of the Petite Savanne Primary School will share the former Teacher’s College Building at Bath Estate on a shift system with students from the Newtown Primary School.

Students of the Newtown Primary will attend school from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, while students of the Petite Savanne Primary will attend from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Saint Jean advised all early childhood institution which were unable to resume sessions should also do so on Monday 14th, September 2015.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development will continue to update the public on a regular basis, he said.

The reopening of schools after the summer break across the island was put on hold following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

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27 Comments

  1. Shay
    September 8, 2015

    I think they should have wait for at least next week. Does not make much sense to send the children back to school and the island may get more rain and unstable conditions from tomorrow. I hope parents make that personal decision and keep their kids safe at home atleast until after TS Grace.

  2. radics
    September 8, 2015

    Some Dominicans just cannot be satisfy.

  3. erik
    September 8, 2015

    This year is madness and shows a level of confusion. Is the chief ready to go back to work? If she is not then so too are the students who have lost friends and family. Some schools still have no water. Not for drinking nor for bathroom or general cleaning purposes. Peter allow school to begin on the 21st as was previously announced. There are still possibilities of flash floods and landslides. Stop playing Rambo with people life.

    • me
      September 8, 2015

      With all that being said i wonder if he would be at work and there is no water to flush the toilets would he still go up ministry. No water in the school toilets how can he allow country schools to open now.

      • Independent Observer
        September 8, 2015

        How many schools actually do not have water. Each case will be reviewed and the right decisions made. Should all students stay home for water issues with 5 or even 10 schools? Stop being so melodramatic!!!

  4. $$$
    September 8, 2015

    Why not house the t-savanne people at the State house or the house of assembly, and have all available schools (DGS and Pierre Charles Secondary) completely opened as soon as possible.

  5. The Real Facts
    September 8, 2015

    I hope you are well-organized. By the look of things, I wonder how comfortable will the children be at school after their experience with this T.S. Erika. Will they be able to concentrate on their studies? Some of them have lost relatives, friends and their home.
    I hope the first day will be concentrated on providing counseling for them.
    Furthermore, in view of the two tropical depressions, school should be postponed to next week.

  6. "Go to Hell"
    September 7, 2015

    These guys are confused, visionless, disorganized and just want to sound impressive. I mean how could the minister announce for all high school to reopen on Wednesday the 9th of September 2015, when the Pm had this to say in his address to the nation tonight: “I wish to take this opportunity to issue a word of warning to residents of this country,” he said. “Now is not the time for daredevil maneuvers. We have been given adequate warning of the likelihood of torrential showers and flash flooding and we must all take heed.” And this: ” A tropical wave is expected to produce rain across the island on Wednesday, while a weakened Tropical Storm Grace, which formed in the Atlantic on the weekend, will be producing more torrential rain by Friday.” Notice he said WEDNESDAY, the same day the minister said school is to reopen. Notice again as he said “We have been given adequate warning.” Since they know so much why not wait until Monday the 14th, to open all schools if all goes well?

  7. dean
    September 7, 2015

    If parents were not prepared by the 27th august give them December they still won’t be. The same people talking about not ready for school those same children moving to and from town everyday plz

  8. doggie
    September 7, 2015

    Mr peter i don’t over stand u at all. u just get up Monday Morning and say school opening on the morning 14th September .did u give the parent their children school things they lost during the flood?if not what hell you talking about sir think before u talk as are big man.i would really like to know who giving u people advice is it a goat or a sheep?

  9. Confused
    September 7, 2015

    Are buses able to drive with students to North Eastern from Marigot and Atkinson.

  10. September 7, 2015

    Today for tomorrow , just like that? Why not all schools open on the 14th?

  11. conscious
    September 7, 2015

    Dominica has no WINTER SEASON parents should be given a chance for reorganization. Bad idea, give an extra week off and extend school one week in DECEMBER.

  12. Concerned
    September 7, 2015

    And what about the weather this Thursday and Friday? Can the bypasses support more rain? There are some students that cone from Roseau to go to Portsmouth for school and such. Are we really ready?

  13. Liberty
    September 7, 2015

    What is the state of our ‘ Stae of the Art’ Newtown Primary due for opening this September.???

  14. hater
    September 7, 2015

    school should open in2016 :-D

    • to sexy for u
      September 7, 2015

      oh hater haters hate school

  15. stars
    September 7, 2015

    Please remember that each grade and form has a syllabus to cover for the academic school year. The longer the children are kept from school, more pressure will be placed to cover the syllabus or if not they will be set back.

    • September 8, 2015

      Your point is taken but you also have to be realistic the PM is warning the public of another storm and that Dominica is in it’s path therefore why open school on Wednesday one day will not hurt especially if we are not touch by the storm, so why is the Education minister and PM say causing such confusion

  16. September 7, 2015

    Please be advised that the Saint Mary’s Academy will re-open on MONDAY 14th SEPTEMBER. 9am for First Form. 11:30am for the rest of the forms. BLACK PANTS

  17. grand bay in virginia
    September 7, 2015

    This is ridiculous. ..how long will the students of Grammar school and Pierre Charles have to wait….

  18. Hmmm
    September 7, 2015

    This is so…..I mean most people were not waiting for this “sudden” opening of school after declaring that school opening would be delayed. I mean that is just one or two days after the original date…..and so late the announcement!

    So many students are unable to attend school…what about those from and going to Portsmouth? I believe another week should have been given to get things a bit more settled…..what’s the rush? If students are kept an extra week in December, I believe that would have been a better idea.

    The country is still desolated…come on people!!! Poor decision, I believe….a decision made by those on the top without thinking right down to the bottom…typical.

    • Truth
      September 7, 2015

      That is not so at all. The only part of the country unreachable right now via vehicle is Petit Savanne and by now all children should have been evacuated from that village. Do you honestly believe one week will make a major difference to student who may not be able to attend school?

      • Free Thinker
        September 7, 2015

        Have you traveled along the West Coast? Have you crossed the bypass at Layou? Macoucherie bridge? Batalie bridge/river? I have, and it is no pretty experience. If it rains and this would be another story? I wonder how much input the principals of the schools had in this decision.
        I want school to reopen but I would like it to be done properly for the safety of all involved. Proper consultation must be done, great ideas do not lie in one set of heads.

    • Teacher
      September 7, 2015

      I agree with you completely. We have so many students who have lost school supplies and will have difficulty in getting to school. Furthermore, it is obvious that the Minister did not listen to the recent weather updates. Why risk sending the children out in possible bad weather? We were told to look out for a tropical wave on Wednesday and the possible passage of TS Grace on Friday. Be it a depression, a wave or whatever, some students are coming from areas that are already unstable.

  19. teacher
    September 7, 2015

    Personally I feel that all schools should be reopened on Monday 14th September. A lot of parents have not finished gotten their children school supplies and getting to town is a nightmare. Next Monday would give secondary school parents a chance to get their children ready. The barrel with my children stuff not yet even come down and their shoes; bag and stationery are in there.

  20. unknown767
    September 7, 2015

    waw what a schedule..

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