Children’s lives in dormitories everywhere matter

Jul 22, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

The deaths of the two boys in the recent fire at the Drop-in Centre on Hadfield Street raise the question of the duty of the Security Guards (male , female or single parent) to be alert and vigilant at all times, especially at night. Did the guard(s) on duty not see the first spark or blaze, or the glare from the growing flames in the dark of night? Did he/she or they not smell the smoke? Were there working smoke-detectors in place? Do the guards remain in one comfortable position for most of the night-shift? Who faithfully checks on the guards during the night?
This tragedy is a wake-up call for the Ministry of Education to ensure that guards and able vigilant guards are in place at night at all of our dormitories in residential secondary schools on the coastland and in the hinterland. Let’s not forget the fire at night at Waramadong Secondary School dormitory (Region Seven) a few years ago when lives were lost.
By extension, it is herein suggested that proper supervision of students by day and by night is required at all of our residential schools. President’s College is not the only residential school; there are now about fifteen (15) others. By day and after school and at weekends, students (girls and boys, and forms One to Five) are not at liberty to leave the compound without a pass; furthermore, the students are not allowed to have unauthorized visitors! After all, CHILDREN’S LIVES IN DORMITORIES EVERYWHERE MATTER!
Walter B. Alexander
(Former Administrator
Of Secondary School Reform Project)

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