The Ministry of Education Transformation says it has spent the past two weeks addressing concerns raised by parents of pupils at Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School as officials continue to monitor health issues there.
In a statement issued yesterday, the ministry said its representatives along with officials from the Ministry of Health and Wellness met with parents on three occasions to provide updates, discuss concerns and respond to questions regarding the health and safety of pupils.
It pointed out that an online meeting was held at the request of parents on Wednesday, May 13, and Chief Environmental Health Officer Euroline Welch-Drakes addressed parents’ concerns, particularly regarding reports of rodents on the Farmers, St Thomas school compound.
The release stated that Welch-Drakes advised that the ministry was provided with instructions regarding the cleaning, sanitisation and remedial works required.
She informed parents that representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness conducted a follow-up visit to the school and their investigations determined the school maintained an extremely high standard of cleanliness and was safe for teaching and learning.
Despite those assurances, some parents remained concerned.
The ministry said the following day, Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw met with parents at the school to discuss concerns related to rodents. Health officials conducted a further inspection of the compound alongside parent representatives and ministry officials, where some pupils presented with rashes.
“During this meeting it was revealed that a small number of students had presented with skin rashes. The principal was advised to report the cases to the Ministry of Health and Wellness through the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic and parents of the affected students were encouraged to have them assessed at the polyclinic,” the statement continued.
It added that an emergency meeting was held last Wednesday with staff, representatives of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Archer-Bradshaw and other ministry officials following growing concerns regarding an increase in the number of pupils presenting with rashes.
The next day, Dr Batson Greaves along with other health practitioners from the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic met with staff and explained that pupils from the school who attended the polyclinic displayed symptoms such as rash, sore throat, cough and fever.
“Investigations, testing and clinical assessments were later conducted to rule out illnesses such as influenza, RSV, COVID-19, dengue, Zika and measles. Staff were advised to isolate and exclude students appearing unwell from school, and parents should be contacted immediately to collect their children.
“The practitioners also advised that the children assessed at the polyclinic were experiencing mild illnesses, adding that no child had been hospitalised and all were reportedly improving.”
A number of high-risk causes, including measles and rubella, were ruled out.
It was also revealed that representatives from the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic conducted a workshop last Thursday with janitorial and other support staff to reinforce established cleaning and sanitisation protocols, while another meeting was held the following day to update parents on the situation and allow representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness to respond to questions and concerns.
Present at the meeting was St Andrew Member of Parliament Dr Romel Springer, Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles and other ministry representatives.
“The Ministry of Education Transformation reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining open communication with all stakeholders and to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Health and Wellness to ensure the continued health, safety, and well-being of students and staff,” the release concluded.
Archer-Bradshaw and Chief Medical Officer Dr The Most Honourable Kenneth George are to meet with parents this evening at the school.
(AJ/PR)
