admin 
The Ministry of Educational Transformation (MEdT) was informed on Friday, June 27, 2025, by the Principal that four members of one class had presented with rash and peeling of the skin on their hands. The Principal was advised to ask the parents/guardians of the remainder of the students in the class to collect their children and take them to be assessed medically.
On Tuesday, June 1, 2025, the Deputy Chief Education Officer (Ag) led a team from MEdT to meet with staff with a view to hearing their concerns and acquiring a deeper knowledge of the situation which had been raised. The students were dismissed at 1:00 pm to facilitate the meeting.
On hearing the concerns of staff, MEdT contacted the Senior Environmental Health Officer to arrange a time for a visit to the school on the following day. It was agreed that staff would be briefed after the environmental team had executed an assessment of the situation.
Following the visit of a team of two nurses from the Maurice Byer Polyclinic and two members of the Environmental Health Department on Wednesday, July 2, five other students were observed with the same symptoms.
MEdT informed the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George, of the situation. He assured MEdT that he would investigate further and suggested that in the interim, an industrial cleaning of the school be conducted. The school was closed on Thursday, July 3 and Friday, July 4, 2025, to permit the cleaning to take place.
MEdT is collaborating in efforts with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and is currently awaiting the advice of the Chief Medical Officer on our next steps as the health and well-being of all staff and students remains of utmost concern to us.
We thank the staff, parents, guardians and students of St. Bernard’s Primary School as we work together to ensure that the environment is fit for all.
(PR)
