By Tracey Liverpool | January 7, 2025
Three secondary schools in Linden are preparing to welcome back students and teachers on Monday, January 13, 2025, while a fourth school will open its doors on Thursday.
The delayed openings are due to ongoing repairs and electrical maintenance in several schools within the region.
Kwakwani Secondary School has undergone extensive repairs, including window replacements, and did not open on Monday as initially scheduled.
Regional Executive Officer Dwight John explained that while central government allocated funds for these repairs last year, the holiday period was insufficient to complete the work on time.
The Wisburg Secondary and Christianburg-Wismar Secondary schools experienced delays due to issues with their transformers.
The Wisburg transformer was struck by lightning, while the one at Christianburg-Wismar was damaged by fire.
New transformers were sourced overseas and installed on Monday, with final cleanup activities taking place today to ensure the schools will reopen on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Mackenzie High School is expected to open on January 13th, as repairs to the main building and Lichas Hall, including roof work and repainting, are expected to be completed by the end of the week.
The Regional Executive Officer mentioned that sections of the building are also being painted, and officials have been advised to allow the epoxy scent from the repainting to dissipate before students return.
The work is part of ongoing efforts to improve the infrastructure of schools in Linden and ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students.