No school today

Saint Jean made the announcement on Monday morning. File photo
Saint Jean made the announcement on Monday morning. File photo

The opening of the new school year has been delayed as a tropical wave continues to affect Dominica.

School was expected to open today Monday, September 5, but Education Minister, Petter Saint Jean, said this will not be the case.

He said the decision was made based on the inclement weather the country has been experiencing over the past 24 hours.

“Coupled with the fact that the weather advisory clearly states that it is expected, or we should expect moderate to heavy showers throughout today and of course given the current state of the roadway in numerous areas ….we wish to advise the public that sessions have been called off for today, Monday 5, September. That is, schools will be closed today,” he said.

He also warned parents to keep their children indoors to ensure their safety and security.

Saint Jean noted that the authorities will continue to monitor the weather but the school suspension is only for Monday, September 5.

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35 Comments

  1. Paul Alexander
    September 5, 2016

    Dominicans, Dominicans, Dominicans. Just shut up. If the ministry says to go, then go. If they say to say, then stay. Our ministers know what is best! And even if they did not cancel school, then so be it.

    • Island empress
      September 6, 2016

      Please LaWa who are you telling shut up? Ministers know what is best and DA in that state ? Let people express themselves as they please and stay on Rock City and deal with Mapp,Potter and the reast of them. Do not tell Dominuicans shut up and when I meet you I’ll tell you what’s up. Give Dominuicans a break please.

      • Island empress
        September 6, 2016

        Sorry for the typos , meant DOMINICANS.

  2. Dion
    September 5, 2016

    Why is it thw opposition is not making public presentations to our children. Is it only our vote that is important to them? I am calling on we the People inc to make a contibution to the education trust fund or to a comunity affeced one year ago by ericka. Put allu money where your mouth is.

  3. koule wyyayi
    September 5, 2016

    Dominica have hurricanes/storms every year. The best place to be is in school right now because some homes are not as secured as the school. Better emergency plans. Government must implement better school security for children and also a safe heaven for people for shelter. Kids need to go back to school.

  4. ddd
    September 5, 2016

    Dominicans to dam bad minded stop playing freaking politics with everything some of all you cannot wait to let go all u dam children for the teachers

  5. Hmmm
    September 5, 2016

    Well it is raining cats and dogs in Possie so I glad there is no school. Better safe than story.

  6. STAR
    September 5, 2016

    and the majority of the people that you guys are looking out for and was trying for thier safety incase of flash flood.. they were already on there way if not in school already.. country children have to get up real early to get buy for 6 am to rch town in time for school.. so too little too late.. they were already on their way.. next time say that the night before or 5 am in the monring.. stupes

  7. STAR
    September 5, 2016

    its ok for taking precautions..but sir please you should have done that earlier..since 5 o clock children get up preparing for school.. you stay and snuggle in your bed and late so you want to announce when they already took the risk and was on thier way… smh.. when will you guys get this right

  8. verna
    September 5, 2016

    not sure what’s the fuss about it’s dominica they are not known to be a island of thinkers
    they’re brainless lot……..the weather forecast was over a extended 5-6 day period…
    so any executive or man with a hat on..would have known to be pro-active!

    but again it’s dominica that’s why they headline as the poorest and slowest economy in the region block…..it will remain so as it’s a cultural NORM!

  9. Wendy
    September 5, 2016

    Seriously people, would you all rather your kids got stranded some place where you can’t reach them. Put your kids first and stop bashing the minister.

    • STAR
      September 5, 2016

      no one is against the cancellation of school.. the fact is the majority of students are already on their way or in school already.. so we are not trying to safe keep them if they already in harms way

      • Dion
        September 5, 2016

        By 5 O’clock this anouncement should have been made. Use the technology. Just as those phone companies jamming our inbox with their messages we donot want to read these messages should be sent through all cellphones as an alert message

    • Mother
      September 5, 2016

      I agree that suspending the opening of the new school year is a wise decision. However, the minister could have announced that sunday evening and not early on monday morning and on all news channels, so people would not be caught out and prepared themselves for a wasted journey, bus drivers and vendors included. I suspect he had to get the green light from Hallelujah Skerrit before he could make his pronouncement? So we have every right to criticise the Minister for his inefficiency.

    • Angel Giraudel
      September 6, 2016

      Children

  10. Sexyeye
    September 5, 2016

    If there is no school there should be no work..I can’t take my children to work an the daycare is close so tell me what should I do when my boss don’t understand..look at the weather now just 9 am clear an the suns out..those children should have gone to school..and just monitor an keep parents in for but honestly some parents really have a hard time today.I saw a lady in town with 3. Children dress for school don’t know what to do can’t go to work with them an her boss is upset daycare close.so tell me…

  11. Sexyeye
    September 5, 2016

    Smh that is not making no sense at all..I know some places may have had bad weather but at lease let people know that by 5 am or last night..is not now they just make a decision they knew there would not be school today…let parents know that early not 5 mins to 7 when children are already dressed…and to who that is saying people is upset u sound like a teacher who really hates there job why don’t you resign an find something u like..don’t blame parents who got there children ready for school an on there way to work found out there is no school..an no we are not fed up with our children u are fed up with your job at the end of the month/ year/ term we still have to pay the same school fee. Weather they go to school or not..we need to be more organised in Dominica…

    • Will
      September 5, 2016

      Don’t you think teachers should be fed up with their jobs. Do teachers get salary to compensate for the hard work they are doing? You that fed up with your children because if you were not you would sympathize with the plight of teachers…you mean one day and you are so mad…you should be angry with God…not teachers or the minister’s decision. I am not a teacher, I am just feeling sorry for them

      • September 6, 2016

        Do you know why teachers are not paid like you would like them to .When you are at work during the summer teachers are at home in America etc vacationing and they get paid.No one like to pay workers for no work done/think about it

  12. A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity
    September 5, 2016

    Parents why are you complaining? The weather is bad, isn’t better your children are home and safe than they would go to school and fallen rocks hit them, or they get stuck in a flash flood. If you know the weather is bad, why it never entered your mind that maybe school may be closed and make alternate arrangements from weekend just in case?

    At least you had warnings all weekend that the weather is bad. The Minister is taking care for the safety of your children, what about you the parents? I would think that is a talk the parents would have had with their children.

  13. Annette
    September 5, 2016

    We need to use an alert system that informs people of important messages such as this. I was already on my way when I heard there was no school. I believe it is the right move, we have to take precautions, but please use of more effective method of bringing the message across to everyone.

  14. Reah
    September 5, 2016

    Seen there is no school today wen will school open .and if there is rain tomorrow will Der be not school as well ???????

    • A Doubting Thomas In Solidarity
      September 5, 2016

      Listen and watch. I listen to the weather reports everyday and especially during the school year, I listen to see what schools may be closed and whether my children buses will be picking them up to know whether my child will be going to school or not. If the weather is bad, I know the possibility of a school closing.

      We all know the difficulty working parents have especially mothers who in most cases are the ones tasked with the child care responsibilities. That is also where the phrase it takes a village to raise a child comes in. Friends and families should always be on standby to help working parents with alternate arrangements for the children.

      There are things beyond our control and there are things we can do to simplify our stress in emergency situations because even our babysitter can get sick and we have to decide whether we have to take a day off work when this happen. In bad weather, flashlight, food, water and childcare are necessities we plan for.

    • Dion
      September 5, 2016

      Donot you know all rain events are not the same. When will you people stop thinking like dumb a……?

  15. September 5, 2016

    the person who is upset with the decision of the ministry………..well,,,,,are you fed with your children and you want teachers to babysit them and take their stress for you????/ what are you not upset with the ministryof education for taking so longer to appoint principals and teahers who are working so hard and are their languishing in pain and cannot meet their daily committment???? where are your voice and your finger to write on DNO????????/

    • STAR
      September 5, 2016

      ohh so now someone else agrees that the working middle class cannot meet their daily commitiment.. ok good.. when lennox said that to kamala u should have backed him up

      • Will
        September 5, 2016

        Yes I did…I agreed with Lennox 100%

      • Will
        September 5, 2016

        Yes I did, I agree with Lennox 100%

      • Dion
        September 5, 2016

        There is to much emphasis on the elderly,children and single mothers while the rest of us catching hell. It appears that being married you are destined for the cold chamber. Married people have challenges just like single mothers. The resources of the country should be for all of us not a selected group.

  16. sandra
    September 5, 2016

    If parents should keep their children indoors so i guess no work either then?

  17. Upste
    September 5, 2016

    Stuppess tan. So ridiculous. Minister needs to come better than this. The weather advisory has been out since yesterday and you are waiting for 5 minutes to 7 when children have alreasy left their homes to make such an announcement. Anybody could see the weather not good. Last year was same thing. Minister need to get off his high horse

    • ok
      September 5, 2016

      I agree; quite a few students were already on their way to school. They could have said so last night.

    • peace
      September 5, 2016

      I back that up.

  18. hmmmmmmmmmm
    September 5, 2016

    Is this really necessary? Yes the weather was bad in laplaine last night and the early hours of the morning but things have cleared up and will continue to clear up…… I think that decision was a mistake.

    • Jazz
      September 5, 2016

      I think so too.

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