Dozens of students were collected early from St Paul’s Primary School on Thursday after reports of illness among pupils and teachers rekindled fears of a gastroenteritis outbreak at the institution.
Parent Jamel Ward said he rushed to the school after being contacted about his daughter.
Jamel Ward. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“I’m here to collect my daughter because I heard she wasn’t well at school today. So they called me to collect her. I came to see what’s going on, make sure she’s okay,” he explained.
Ward’s experience was echoed by other parents on the compound, some of whom said they received sudden calls to pick up their children without clear explanations.
One father, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was unsure why his children needed to be collected.
“I just got a call to collect the children. I’m not sure why… I just came for them and taking them home,” he said, adding that he believes the school should temporarily close to prevent further spread of illness.
Adrian Bascombe also questioned the decision to keep the school open, pointing to reports that over 100 students and at least two teachers were affected by a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak. He argued that stronger sanitation measures were needed and raised concerns about environmental conditions around the school.
Adrian Bascombe. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
Despite the visible disruption, Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles confirmed that the school remains open under guidance from health authorities.
She explained that officials from the Ministry of Educational Transformation visited the school to assess the situation after reports that a teacher had fallen ill and required medical attention.
Principal of St Paul’s Primary School Joan Collymore with Deputy Chief Education Officer Julia Beckles. (Photo Credit: Lauryn Escamilla)
“We understand that the protocols that the Ministry of Health did suggest are being put in place as far as the cleaning is concerned,” Beckles said, noting that only one student was reported unwell on the day of the visit.
She added that decisions regarding closure fall under the direction of the Ministry of Health.
“In any case where we are dealing with a matter of health, we have to take our advice and instruction from the Ministry of Health”, she said.
But as the day unfolded, the sight of teachers leaving and students being collected painted a different picture on the ground, with uncertainty lingering among parents and staff.
The situation follows calls from the Barbados Union of Teachers for the temporary closure of the school after more than 100 students were absent earlier this week amid a suspected gastroenteritis outbreak.
The union has urged that the campus be thoroughly cleaned and sanitised before normal classes resume, as concerns continue about the health and safety of both students and teachers.
(LE)
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