Classes at Wisburg suspended over smell of chemicals

The Region Ten Department of Education was this morning forced to suspend classes at the Wisburg Secondary School following the strong smell of malathion and gas oil that was used to spray the building yesterday.

The spraying had been a demand by the parents of students of the school who had locked its gates yesterday to complain about conditions there including flooding and a mosquito infestation.

Today, teachers were told to remain at the school or take up positions at other schools or they would not be paid for the day. One teacher had to be rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex after being overcome by the fumes and experiencing a fainting spell.

Teachers are meanwhile heading to the education department to plead their case since they cannot be accommodated at other schools.

A resumption of classes had been expected this morning following yesterday’s protest.  The protest was launched by the school’s Parent-Teachers Association after concerns that the education authorities were not doing anything about longstanding problems at the school.