Classes at the Grantley Adams Memorial School are on track to resume as early as next Monday, pending the all-clear from air quality tests expected by the end of this week.
The Blackmans, St Joseph school has been closed for in-person learning since late September to facilitate extensive remediation work following staff and student complaints.
Chairman of the school’s board of management, George Griffith, expressed regret over the lengthy project, which has disrupted regular class operations.
He outlined the ongoing efforts in an interview with Barbados TODAY.
“The entire exterior and interior of the school had to be cleaned in a particular way in accordance with regulations, and that was completed,” he explained.
Griffith attributed the prolonged delay to the scope of work required.
“Grantley Adams is a very sprawling complex and there were a number of tests that had to be done and samples had to be sent overseas and all of that,” he said. “There were lots of consultations, but now we believe that remediation is at an end and we are awaiting the all-clear from the professionals. In fact, in order to expedite the work, we have recommended using three teams of constructors so that the entire campus was divided in three and they work around the clock, even on weekends, in order to get the school back.”
Griffith also addressed parents’ concerns, particularly those aired on VOB’s Down to BrassTacks radio programme, regarding a lack of updates on the project.
“There was a meeting called by the acting principal with parents online, and I was part of that meeting,” he stated. “Subsequent to that, there was a meeting with the staff, the entire staff, professionals, and ministry officials. Additionally, the board of management and the ministry met with professionals, and just last week, there was a meeting with the PTA to provide updates on the school’s status and the timeline for reopening.”
The board chairman also acknowledged the challenges some students faced in accessing online classes due to a lack of devices. To address this, the school provided tablets to those in need.
“The uptake was initially slow, but the acting principal has been pushing to ensure parents and students were informed about the online learning process,” he said.
Looking ahead, Griffith expressed optimism about reopening next week, provided air quality tests confirm the school’s readiness.
“We are now awaiting the all-clear from the professionals. Once that is received, we expect classes to resume,” he stated.
Griffith reiterated the commitment of the school and the Ministry of Education to ensure a safe and smooth return to in-person learning.
“It has been a complex problem, but we have given the professionals the time they need to resolve it,” he added.
louriannegraham@barbadostoday.bb
