Students at the Girls’ High School (GHS) and the Thomas Saunders Secondary School (TSSS) were again away from the classroom today because of a flea infestation.
Classes and students were sent home around midday on April 23 because of the situation which developed which is said to be attributed to stray dogs in the area.
Both schools are being temporarily housed on the former airstrip of the now decommissioned E.T. Joshua airport at Arnos Vale.
According to Curtis King, Minister of Education who addressed the issue on radio on April 24 explained that the students from both schools were away from face-to-face instructions saying that there were reports of a flea infestation which according to him occurs from ‘time to time’.
King said that a lot of dogs frequented the area because it was an area where people eat and although appeals had been sent to owners of dogs in the area to tie their animals, or to keep them within their boundaries, there was still the issue of stray dogs.
It is not the first time that the schools have reported such an issue.
Back in 2022, students had to resort to virtual classes because of the flea infestation; according to King, there were no reports coming from the St Vincent Grammar School (SVGS)M which was housed in the same area then.
However, the education minister said that the premises of the schools are treated, and they had done a series of things to mitigate against the stray dogs including erecting a fence.
“But sometimes, despite your good effort, challenges persist,” King said.
“You now have to find other solutions,” he continued.
Regarding the recent infestation, King said that the ministry of education took the decision to close both schools early on Tuesday afternoon and arranged for the public health department to go in.
“And hence it would have been impossible given the chemicals used for there to be face-to-face education on those campuses,” King said.
According to him, school was expected to resume on Friday, that was unless they had been advised differently by the health officials.
