Ross Sheil & Petrina Francis, Staff Reporters
ROADBLOCKS MOUNTED by angry protesters forced schools across the Corporate Area to send students home yesterday.
However, St. Andrew High School stayed open, with two thirds of first formers attending their orientation, reported principal Sharon Reid.
When a Gleaner news team arrived at the school, scores of parents were seen waiting for their children to finish the orientation session so they could take them home safely.
Parent Aileen Edwards said: "The whole situation is rather sad because we could have had the demonstration and the schools remain open. The protests go on, but to block the road!" she exclaimed. "What we destroy today we will need tomorrow and we will be further in debt," she added.
VERY ANXIOUS
First former Shari-Anne Wilson was grateful for the school's decision to remain open. "I was very anxious to come to my first day of school and I wanted to cry when I heard we might not go. But then I heard we were still going so I was like 'Yeah!'
Up to 9:30 a.m. yesterday, the news team had seen hundreds of students making their way home.
Mari Feurtado, a grade seven student who attends Kingston College, said he was told to go home after the orientation was postponed. Fortunately, his mother was able to get a ride and pick him up from school.
Shantell Shand of Immaculate High School was also sent home. She was also able to get a ride home while some classmates remained, waiting for the school to arrange transportation for them.
Classes at the University of Technology and the University of the West Indies were also suspended yesterday.
"It is unfortunate that we have this disruption at the beginning of the school year," said Ruel Reid, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association.
The president said the closure of schools was more widespread in the Corporate Area while schools in St. Elizabeth and other rural areas remained open.
Mr. Reid said while he did not object to people demonstrating, it should be carried out within the confines of the law.
And State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, Senator Noel Monteith, described the forced closure of schools as "unfortunate".
"I do not see how people who claim that they believe in education would behave in such a way and cause schools to be disrupted," said Senator Monteith.
