A-G Slams Critics Of Schools Closure

The Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says it is ridiculous to see people on social media criticising the closure of schools in the Western Division that were severely damaged in the recent floods.

In his capacity as Minister for Education, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday visited schools in Ba that were damaged in the recent floods.

“I think it’s quite preposterous, rather silly for some people to be commenting on social media that schools should be opened, they obviously don’t understand what these schools and communities around it are going through,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

He visited a few schools that were damaged by the floods including Ba Muslim Primary School and Xavier College.

He also thanked government officials on the ground who are assisting in the cleaning of these schools where thick mud has settled in classrooms and some school buildings were filled with water. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said they had directed the closure of these schools for the children’s safety and that most of these schools were affected.

“Obviously the schools are closed today and tomorrow as well because some of the schools may not necessarily have full sanitation facilities or may not have running water,” he said.

“So we have to ensure that when our children return to school there is some level of sanitation or otherwise the danger and possibility of illnesses might spread.

“This is one of the reasons of course we have decided to keep the schools closed until Friday (today),” he added.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said they were working round the clock to ensure that children would learn in clean classrooms.

“In the meantime we have to ensure that all utilities are up and running,” he said.

“And we shouldn’t forget that some teachers have been affected, they have been living in homes that have been inundated with flood waters.

“We have to ensure that teachers would teach in clean classrooms, and that’s the reason off course we have closed the schools for a week until today (yesterday).”

He added they have also directed the closure of schools in Labasa.