The Ministry of Education Refurbishing Schools affected by Irene in San Cristóbal and San José de Ocoa

The Ministry of Education Refurbishing Schools affected by Irene in San Cristóbal and San José de Ocoa
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 9/2/2011

Milagros Yost, Ministry of Education Advisor to Participating Organizations, said schools in San Cristobal used to house people affected by Irene have been emptied out by 50%. She said the strategy used to empty to schools, moving the families to the homes of nearby relatives, has been successful.

“We can say that the schools in this area are safe and sound. We are almost certain that during the course of this week, the entire situation will be 90% resolved,” said Ms. Yost.

“We can say that the schools in this area are safe and sound. We are almost certain that during the course of this week, the entire situation will be 90% resolved,” said Ms. Yost.

She added that large amounts of water isolated and impeded access to some of the communities of San Cristobal as well as San José de Ocoa where some places were totally incommunicado.

Until Monday, the 29th of August, there were ten schools being used by those left homeless by Irene. Four of them were in San José de Ocoa and six in San Cristóbal, as local authorities work hard to relocate these people.

“While these are not efforts that directly correspond to the Ministry of Education, we are working with the localities and the Red Cross and are at their disposition to help out in any technical capacity as well as working with them shoulder-to-shoulder,” said Ms. Yost.

She added that the Maintenance and Infrastructure team of the Ministry of Education (MINERD) is evaluating schools that suffered damage as a result of the intense use of their classrooms and space. The Red Cross is carrying out the job of disinfecting the rooms that were used by the storm refugees.

She said the organizations connected to MINERD are dealing with reorganizing the schools.

In terms of beginning the school year, Yost said that decision will be taken by the corresponding School District and School Boards who will organize the academic calendar once the classrooms and schools are completely free of Irene refugees.