The horrible stench that has driven teachers and students from The Lester Vaughan School — prompting its week-long closure on Monday — is coming from a seriously defective sewage system, according to two weekend environmental tests, Barbados TODAY has learned.
The problems were so severe that the plumbing contractor conducting the tests declared the campus “unhealthy” and in a “scary” state.
A smoke test — a sewer inspection method — was conducted twice on Saturday and Saturday by the plumbers, a report of which was obtained by Barbados TODAY. Both tests were conducted from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the presence of the principal, a representative of the school’s board of management, a teacher and a teachers union’s shop steward.
Nontoxic smoke is pumped into the lines to identify pipe leaks, uncapped lines and other defects.
Many breaches and defects were identified on both days at various locations across the school, the report said.
The plumbing company indicated that more tests were needed, adding there was great concern for the well-being of the school’s occupants, it added.
“Please note that with all of these breaches, incomplete testing, and incomplete remediation, I believe it would be unconscionable to expect staff and students to be in this unsafe environment, especially after being made scientifically aware of the unhealthy situation. I find this situation very scary,” the plumbing contractor declared.
Almost every area that was tested revealed a significant problem, including ineffective silicone sealants, cement sealing and grease sealing issues, according to the report. Several broken-off pipelines need sealing, it said.
Close to 60 teachers and 900 students occupy the school.
On Monday, many teachers gathered under the shade of trees at the Cane Garden, St Thomas school to thrash out issues relating to the environment with visiting Ministry of Education officers. Soon after, a decision was made to close the school around midday.
Since the beginning of the term seven weeks ago, teachers have consistently reported feeling sick, citing respiratory concerns, which led to the school closing early on several occasions.
In a press statement on Monday, the ministry said the school will be closed for the remainder of the week.
It said: “The Lester Vaughan School will be closed half day [Monday], and online classes are to take place on Tuesday. . . and Wednesday. . . . This is to allow the school’s Board of Management to facilitate work on that compound, following results of a smoke test conducted on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 19. . . . The materials to be used in the remedial works may cause irritation to some, so in the interest of the health and comfort to those on the plant, it is recommended that classes should be facilitated remotely.”
Midterm break begins on Thursday and ends on Friday.
In response, the Barbados Union of Teachers said the smoke tests scientifically proved that teachers were not lying about their health concerns.
President Rudy Lovell said he was appalled by the ministry’s statement on Sunday describing the development as an act to discredit the integrity of Lester Vaughan teachers.
Lovell charged that the ministry wanted to create a facade that the teachers’ concerns were disingenuous, declaring that environmental issues have been plaguing the school for more than 15 years.
The BUT leader said: “The ministry was trying to discredit the teachers in their attempt to have a resolution to the issues at the school. The intent was to make it look like teachers are not genuine in their cries with regards to the ailments they are being exposed to at the school. This is a cause of concern because it shows a lack of care by the Ministry of Education as it relates to addressing the concerns of staff,” he said. “ As recent as yesterday (Sunday) a smoke test was done and it revealed faults in the sewerage system. Smoke was billowing at some key points in the school which could be one of the factors that has caused teachers to present with several ailments. While we agree that some things were done at the school, the union is resolute in its cry that more must be done to get to the bottom of the issue and to find out what is making teachers ill.”
On Sunday in a press statement, the Ministry of Education shared the details of an environmental study dated March 23 last year.
In the statement, the chairman of the school’s board of management, Dr Donley Carrington, said all but one of the recommendations made were followed through. The statement said that about 15 issues were raised and remedial work has been done to address them.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
