CLEANING OF CAYON HIGH SCHOOL UNDERWAY; REOPENING FOR THE 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR DELAYED

 

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 03, 2019 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Education is ensuring that the staff and students of the Cayon High School return to a clean and safe environment for the 2019/2020 academic year, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Shawn Richards, during a Sitting of Parliament on September 03.  

 
The deputy prime minister reported that during the summer vacation the entire school was fumigated to treat termite infested spaces at the school. This was in conjunction with the removal of mold in the biology and chemistry labs at the school. The science labs were cleaned, cupboards removed and subsequently retesting has taken place.

The deputy prime minister stated that at present a professional cleaning company is contracted to clean the entire school. “All spaces are being power-washed and sprayed with chemicals that will remove any final trace of mold infestation,” he said.

As a result of the extensive cleaning being done at the Cayon High School, the Ministry of Education conducted a meeting with the staff of the school on August 29^th, 2019, at the ICCS auditorium to discuss the initial results of the mold problem reported by the school.

“At 4:30 p.m. on that same day, officials from the Ministry of Education met with the parents and guardians of students attending the school,” reported the deputy prime minister. “The audiences at both meetings received the salient information from the first tests carried out by the Bureau of Standards. Both audiences received the commitment of the Ministry of Education that the Cayon High School will be declared safe before teachers and students are allowed to reoccupy the space at this institution.”

Based on this commitment, the reopening of the Cayon High School for the 2019/2020 School year has been delayed.

Deputy Prime Minister Richards stated that the Ministry of Education “is working assiduously to have the cleaning of the Cayon High School completed before a decision on its reopening is made.” 

“The Ministry of Education therefore expresses its profound thanks to the principal, staff and the students of the Cayon High School for their patience, understanding and resilience demonstrated during this very trying time in the life of the institution. The Ministry of Education also apologizes to all for the inconvenience caused,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richards.