Parents, union lament closure of schools as a result of cow-itch

Three schools closed early on Tuesday, following complaints from students and teachers about “itchy skin” as cow-itch vines near educational institutions continue to be a nuisance.

Around 10 a.m., parents at Mount Tabor Primary School in St John, and All Saints’ Primary School and All Saints’ Nursery School in St Peter received messages that they should immediately collect their children due to the environmental problem.

First Vice President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Julian Pierre who visited All Saints’ Primary and Nursery informed Barbados TODAY that in addition to children at those two institutions complaining of itching, teachers decided that they would not remain at the compound due to the discomfort.

“They decided that for themselves, the children and the ancillary staff. So the decision was made then for both schools to be closed, for persons to leave the compounds, and there was a similar situation at Mount Tabor,” he said.

Julian Pierre

Pierre said the teachers hope the issue is resolved soon and the Ministry of Education makes arrangements for the affected schools to be cleaned pending the return of face-to-face classes.

Barbados TODAY received reports that on Monday, a significant section of Mount Tabor was affected by cow-itch and several parents demanded urgent action to solve the problem which is creating a headache for children and staff of the school.

On Tuesday, Barbados TODAY visited the institution where parents said it was a major inconvenience having to leave work to collect their children from school earlier than usual, and finding alternative arrangements for their charges to be supervised. Olivia Culpepper said while she did not send to school her son who complained about itching on Monday, it was annoying having to return for his older sibling on Tuesday because classes ended abruptly.

“It is really frustrating. They really need to get it fixed because if I was at work or anywhere far, then I would have to come all the way back to collect the child from school.

“The little one was complaining about itching yesterday but I was far away so I didn’t get here on time to collect him and he had to wait. When he came home he showed me the marks from the scratching so I told him to just stay home today. This needs to be fixed because although they shut the windows they can’t keep them shut all the time, they would need air,” Culpepper said.

Natasha Kirton said she had to pick up her son early on Monday and take him to work with her and would have to do the same today.

“It is frustrating because the children come to school and then you gotta leave from work to come back for him. As I collect him now, I have to go back to work,” she said.

Another woman who collected her nieces and nephew on Monday and Tuesday because their parents were unable to leave work, said because the school was closed last Friday as a result of the same cow-itch issue, she thought the matter would have been resolved on the weekend.

“But clearly it isn’t because a whole bunch of children would have left school early yesterday. I think dealing with it over the weekend would have prevented what happened yesterday and today.

“If I was not able to come and get them from school they would have had to stay here because their parents are at work. We need to get it fixed for the teachers, the students, and the other staff because it is clearly affecting quality teaching time,” said the woman who requested anonymity.

Efforts to contact officials at the Ministry of Education on the matter, on Tuesday, proved futile.

However, it issued a statement on Monday informing staff, parents and guardians of the Blackman and Gollop Primary School and the Thelma Berry Nursery School that classes would be conducted online on Tuesday and Wednesday, due to the cow-itch plant causing discomfort for students and staff.

The ministry said it regretted the inconvenience and gave the assurance that it was working with several entities to have the affected areas cleared and foliage removed.

Last Thursday, President of the BUT Rudy Lovell, during an interview with Barbados TODAY called on landowners, including the State, to have lots cleared of cow-itch vines.

He said teaching at several schools had already been disrupted as a result of the irritation caused by the plant.

When contacted, Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde said the Government was working on legislation that would force landowners to either clear their lots or be subjected to penalties.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb