LA PARFAITE Harmonie Nursery and Primary schools are scheduled to be reopened on April 15th, one week after tomorrow’s official reopening date of Ministry of Education-run schools. But this is in order to facilitate renovations to the building after it had been subjected to damage caused by a fire on March 26th during the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examinations. A recently issued release from the Ministry of Education, through its Public Relations Officer, Ms. Suelle Findlay-Williams, stated that “due to extensive renovations currently underway at the Parfaite Harmony Primary and Nursery schools as a result of a recent fire, the Ministry of Education wishes to announce that school will reopen on Monday, April 15th, 2013 instead of Monday, April 8th 2013”.

The release invites parents and guardians to attend a parent/teacher meeting tomorrow, at 14:00 hrs at the Parfaite Harmonie Primary School for detailed discussion on related arrangements. The release further stated that registration is in progress for both schools in the schools’ compound, and the ministry is working assiduously to ensure that students, teachers and staff of the schools return to normalcy.

Fire ripped through a section of the building that houses the La Parfaite Harmonie Nursery and Primary schools, West Bank Demerara, shortly before midday on the aforementioned date. It occurred while students were sitting the second day of the NGSA examination, but fortunately, invigilators acted quickly and ensured that the candidates exited the premises to safety at a teacher’s house close by.

Reports indicate that the blaze was started by a male student who was also taking the exams, and it was during the 15-minute break that he reportedly went under the school, as is his habit.

Visibly traumatised students told the Guyana Chronicle that they were in process of writing the examination when they began coughing, saw smoke in the classroom, and alerted the teachers. They said it was then they realised that a part of the structure was on fire, and they quickly evacuated the building in an orderly manner as the fire spread.

Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, who went to the scene, spoke with the students, teachers and parents who had gathered there, and said he was very happy that everybody who had been in the school was safe.

Meanwhile, Chief Fire Officer, Marlon Gentle had said that when the GFS received the call, it responded with two tenders from West Ruimveldt and Central Stations in Georgetown and doused the flames.
He stated that between 30 and 40 percent of the middle section of the one-flat concrete property was severely damaged. Gentle confirmed that the GFS is investigating the cause of the fire, and said the findings would be revealed shortly.