Landfill fire |22 September 2020
PS de Commarmond (Photo: Joena Meme)
Schools in central region and east Mahé to remain closed today
Schools in the central region and in the east of Mahé will remain closed today Tuesday September 22 on account of the intense fumes still emanating from the fire ravaging the Providence landfill since Saturday evening.
The principal secretary for Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Odile de Commarmond, met with the press at the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development headquarters yesterday to announce some of the measures taken in relation with the fire.
“This decision was taken in collaboration with the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM). Yesterday morning, we received some calls from the head teachers of some schools and even parents. Personally, I went to Plaisance primary and secondary schools and noted that three children had to be taken to hospital due to respiratory issues. There were lots of smoke and we called on DRDM to evaluate the situation and also the Red Cross Society. They recommended closing the schools in that region as the smoke was too strong for the children and teachers. The situation is being monitored closely to see when the schools will be reopened,” the PS said.
The schools that will remain closed today are :
- Plaisance primary and creche
- Plaisance secondary
- School for the Exceptional Child
- Les Mamelles creche
- Mont Fleuri primare and creche
- Mont Fleuri secondary
- Perseverance primary and creche
- Perseverance secondary
- Bel Eau primary and creche
- English River creche
- English River secondary
- La Rosière primary and creche
- Labourdonnais creche
DRDM will reevaluate the situation and all parents will be informed.
PS de Commarmond thanked the parents for their concerns and help.
Regarding the private schools, the International School and Ecole Française also had to close early morning yesterday and Independent School asked the parents to come pick up their children at 1pm.
All students are being encouraged to keep learning online for their upcoming exams.
Vidya Gappy