The Ministry of Education will announce on Monday if it will close some schools due to flooding.

Minister Shaik Baksh told a press conference yesterday that a total of 57 schools countrywide may be closed temporarily however this will depend on an analysis of conditions over the weekend. He said too a decision will be made after the relevant assessment reports have been submitted to the education departments in various districts and the issuance of an advisory to this extent.

Baksh said as it stands the ministry expects to close four schools in Region One and 19 in Region Four that have been hardest hit by floods. Sixteen schools in Region Five and 17 in Region Six may also be closed. No school in regions two, seven, eight, nine or ten will be affected as these areas have not been badly affected by the rains.

The minister said education officials from each district had been advised to visit all schools today and tomorrow while he and other officials will make special visits to a number of East Coast Demerara schools to have a first-hand look and evaluation of the situation.