Secondary schools in Region 2 of the island - St Mary, St Thomas and Portland - have not received new furniture for the start of the new school year.

Schools in these parishes may be forced to further extend the time for the opening of school, which was pushed back from yesterday to tomorrow, because of the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.

The two days were given to allow school administrators, parents and students time to adequately prepare for back to school.

Principal of the St Thomas Technical High School, Philip Wilson, told The Gleaner yesterday that his school was in need of 180 desks and chairs to fill six new classrooms that were built to accommodate more students.

Built by ministry

Three of the classrooms were built by the Ministry of Education and the other three built from funds raised by the school.

"Not even a chair or desk has been delivered for the classrooms," Wilson said.

The principal said he spoke to the chief education officer, Jasper Lawrence, last week regarding the furniture and was told "it would be worked on".

Lawrence told The Gleaner the delivery of furniture to schools was a continuous process and that the ministry would continue with the process, provided the roads were in good condition.

Though the island was affected by Tropical Storm Gustav, the weekend before the start of the school year, Wilson said the storm should not be an excuse for the late delivery.