STUDENTS who were affected directly and indirectly by the devastating fire at the girls’ dormitory in Mahdia, Region Eight, have been given the option to write or retake the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations at the January sitting, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand has disclosed.

The fire which authorities have since determined was maliciously set, claimed the lives of 20 children and left a similar number nursing injuries, some life-threatening.

“Not everybody was directly affected but you had children from the same school [Mahdia Secondary], who I considered to be directly affected. We offered them the option of writing in January, some students choose that option and some felt like they needed to write now,” Manickchand said on the sidelines of a signing ceremony on Wednesday.

Students across the Caribbean are currently writing the May/June CSEC examinations. CSEC examinations are normally written by candidates who have completed two years of the syllabus at the secondary level.

Additionally, those students who have opted to continue with their examinations during this period, have been given the option to retake the exams if the results are not satisfactory.

“If after the results are out and they want a second chance they will get that although we don’t usually do that in the public schools and they will choose January.”

The ministry is still engaging with the parents and students who were directly affected by the tragedy.

“Of the children who are directly affected we have begun to talk to them and their parents about what options can work for them and their parents and given all kinds of present circumstances including their psychological state of mind we are working to see what some of the best options can be,” she said.
According to Manickchand, some students have indicated their reluctance and inability to return to school and, as such, the ministry is exploring the construction of at least one secondary school in another part of the region.

“For example, Micobie has offered two options for their students: one a bus service or two, a school in the community.”

She added, “Our insistence is that every single student that was affected by this fire, whether directly or indirectly will finish high school successfully.”

On May 21, the Mahdia Secondary School’s girls’ dormitory was ravaged by a fire that claimed the lives of 19 girls and one five-year-old boy and left several injured.

A 15-year-old girl who has been identified as the alleged arsonist, has since been slapped with 19 counts of murder and is currently being held at a juvenile facility. The charges were instituted prior to the death of the 20th victim.