[UPDATED] Education Minister: Yellow-level alerts not enough reason to close schools

Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has said yellow-level adverse weather alerts are common in the rainy season, so they do not "constitute sufficient cause to close schools nationwide.”

She was responding to a question from Newsday about the backlash her ministry is facing for announcing the closure of schools late on Thursday morning.

The country has been under a yellow-level adverse weather alert since 12am on Wednesday, which is set to end on Friday at 12pm.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Met Office issued an orange-level riverine alert warning of a severe risk to public safety, livelihood and property.

As scores of children were either en route to or at their respective schools on Thursday, just after 7am, Gadsby-Dolly posted to her Facebook page and WhatsApp status announcing that all schools would be closed for the day.

This led to a lot of criticism from the public.

In a press release after her post, the ministry said schools – except those at which post-flood clean-up efforts are under way – will reopen on Friday.

Asked what was the decision-making process behind announcing the closure of schools so late, she told Newsday her ministry “can only be guided by the advice of the Met Service.

“School closure is a serious matter and an option of last resort."

She said principals of schools in flood-prone areas can ask for their schools to be dismissed. Some principals did so on Wednesday.

“Having received word of the change in riverine flooding alert at 6.55am today (sic), based on the level of rainfall during the night, the decision to close schools was taken thereafter.”

She said the ministry continues to monitor the weather and river conditions.

NPTA: Earlier notice should have been given

President of the National Parent-Teacher Association (NPTA) President Kevin David told Newsday, “We are aware that everyone is guided by the Met Office. However, due to the inclement weather yesterday (Wednesday), we at the NPTA would have taken the initiative to caution parents and inform them to err on the side of caution.”

He said while the NPTA cannot tell parents to keep their children at home, it told them of the potential hazards caused by the weather.

Asked about the time the Education Ministry made the announcement, noting that it was not an official press release but a social media post, he said it “created a problem for parents.

“Money would have been spent to send their children to school and then they would have to come back.

“In addition to that, transportation would have been provided for some of those children (to go), and those transports would not have been available to bring the children back home...there are parents who could not leave their jobs…”

He said there were many such incidents on Thursday.

“I think that a proper decision from before should have been made and parents informed.

“Yes, it is up to parents to decide whether or not it is safe for their children to be sent to school, (but) some sort of consideration should have been made for the circumstances parents are faced with.”

This story has been updated to include additional information. Read original below:

Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has said yellow-level adverse weather alerts are common in the rainy season, so they do not "constitute sufficient cause to close schools nationwide.”

She was responding to a question from Newsday about the backlash her ministry is facing for announcing the closure of schools late on Thursday morning.

The country has been under a yellow-level adverse weather alert since 12am on Wednesday, which is set to end on Friday at 12pm.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Met Office issued an orange-level riverine alert warning of a severe risk to public safety, livelihood and property.

As scores of children were either en route to or at their respective schools on Thursday, just after 7am, Gadsby-Dolly posted to her Facebook page and WhatsApp status announcing that all schools would be closed for the day.

This led to a lot of criticism from the public.

In a press release after her post, the ministry said schools – except those at which post-flood clean-up efforts are under way – will reopen on Friday.

Asked what was the decision-making process behind announcing the closure of schools so late, she told Newsday her ministry “can only be guided by the advice of the Met Service.

“School closure is a serious matter and an option of last resort."

She said principals of schools in flood-prone areas can ask for their schools to be dismissed. Some principals did so on Wednesday.

“Having received word of the change in riverine flooding alert at 6.55am today (sic), based on the level of rainfall during the night, the decision to close schools was taken thereafter.”

She said the ministry continues to monitor the weather and riverine conditions.