Deacons Primary closed, ministry steps up rodent control

Deacons Primary School will remain closed today, Friday, October 31, 2025, as the Ministry of Educational Transformation intensifies efforts to deal with a rodent problem at the St Michael institution. The school was also closed on Monday and Thursday after reports of vermin on the compound.

In a statement issued on Thursday night, the ministry said work was ongoing to restore safe and hygienic conditions at the school. “Our schools are not only a very important part of our communities, but they are also physically situated in our communities. This means that what impacts the community invariably will also impact the school plant,” the statement said.

“In relation to Deacons Primary, we are working assiduously to combat the unwelcomed presence of vermin at the school. Our Educational Transformation Management Unit (ETMU) is conducting investigations into potential breaches that permit their unwanted entry onto the school plant and is working with the school’s leadership to make the necessary recommendations for the maintenance of the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness on the compound,” it added.

The ministry said staff would spend the next 72 hours decluttering the premises as part of the clean-up and remediation process. “Over the next 72 hours, the staff will work to declutter the premises. To this end, the school will remain closed tomorrow, October 31, 2025, in order for the remediation work to be carried out at the plant,” the statement continued.

It also disclosed plans to tighten monitoring and enforcement across all schools to ensure proper waste management. “We will be further monitoring and enforcing at all of our schools across the country the effective disposal of food, snacks and other items used during the day, thus, creating less opportunity for vermin to come.”

Officials emphasised that the ministry was maintaining close communication with education stakeholders throughout the process. “The Ministry of Educational Transformation (MEDT) remains in open and regular dialogue with our stakeholders. As such, the union is aware of the steps we are taking to remediate the challenges at Deacons Primary School and have given their support,” the statement said.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining safe and healthy conditions across the island’s schools. “The MEDT remains committed to ensuring a safe and healthy environment within our school plants and will continue to work with our stakeholders to do so,” it said.