MECYS remediation plan, long-term maintenance overhaul at Marie Genevieve de Weever School

SUCKER GARDEN--The Cabinet of the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) has provided detailed clarification on the urgent stop order issued for several classrooms at the Marie Genevieve de Weever (MGDW) School, outlining the legal basis, inspection findings, interim measures, funding, and plans for a multi-year facilities management program across public schools.

The stop order was issued by the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) on November 5, 2025, following an environmental health inspection requested by Minister of ECYS Melissa Gumbs. The inspection was conducted under the Safety Ordinance (Veiligheidslandsverordening A.B. 2013, GT no. 438, as amended by A.B. 2015 no. 9) and the 1st Safety Decree (Veiligheidsbesluit I, A.B. 2013, GT no. 348). MECYS received the inspection findings the same day and immediately began coordinating the remediation response with the relevant departments and authorities.

The inspection revealed extensive signs of rat and pigeon infestations, including droppings, nests and other health hazards within multiple classrooms. The VSA report documented serious sanitation and environmental health concerns linked primarily to pigeon activity surrounding the shutter enclosures and exterior ledges of rooms 103, 104, 109, and 112 through 117. Inspectors observed pigeons roosting above these classrooms and noted an accumulation of droppings on ledges, walls and walkways.

These conditions created unsanitary environments and unpleasant odours, and the biological waste was assessed as a potential respiratory and infectious health risk due to airborne contamination. The severity of these findings led VSA to order the immediate closure of the affected rooms. The Division of Public Education did not take photographs during the inspection; any photographic documentation can be requested directly from the VSA Inspectorate.

MECYS explained that pigeon activity has been an ongoing challenge at MGDW and other public schools, despite daily cleaning of walkways and outdoor teaching areas. Earlier this year, a previous roosting site at the MGDW building was sealed to prevent further nesting. As a result, pigeons migrated to the rolling shutter enclosures above several classrooms, increasing both the density and frequency of their presence.

The Ministry indicated that the Division of Public Education currently has no designated Facility Manager, and since structural changes made more than a decade ago, maintenance for public schools has shifted from the Ministry of VROMI to an outsourced, on-call model. This longstanding gap in preventive maintenance oversight contributed to the worsening of the problem. Bird spikes had already been ordered prior to the November 5 inspection, indicating that mitigation efforts were already underway.

At this time, MECYS is not pursuing disciplinary action against individual staff members or contractors. The Ministry is instead prioritizing structural improvements and a stronger maintenance system across public schools. A broader review of maintenance protocols and contractor performance is in progress as part of MECYS’ effort to revamp maintenance arrangements for all public schools.

On the remediation front, MECYS reported that contracts for cleaning and decontamination services at MGDW have not yet been awarded. The Division of Public Education has solicited and received quotations from two cleaning companies and will proceed in line with government procurement regulations to finalize contractor selection. The full remediation program will include deep cleaning, decontamination, pest treatment and the installation of bird spikes and other deterrent systems. Once all works are completed, the VSA Inspectorate will conduct a follow up inspection. Only after VSA certifies that the classrooms meet applicable health and safety standards will MECYS authorize the reopening of the affected rooms.

A reopening schedule for rooms 103, 104, 109, and 112 through 117 will be finalized once the Ministry confirms that all required cleaning, decontamination and installation of deterrent systems have been completed. MECYS emphasized that it must await the conclusion of these steps before providing a confirmed timeline for when each classroom can safely be returned to service. Following VSA’s verification inspection, MECYS will publish an updated readiness schedule for the school community.

The Ministry also addressed questions about island wide inspections. To date, the VSA Inspectorate has already conducted inspections at three premises: the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School and the Dr. Alma Fleming Care Center. A full inspection schedule for the remaining public schools has not yet been issued by VSA. MECYS continues to coordinate closely with the Inspectorate to ensure that the remaining schools are inspected in a timely and systematic manner and that necessary interventions can be identified and carried out.

With respect to financing, MECYS has secured an emergency reservation of XCG 50,000 for immediate remediation works at MGDW. As the scope and cost of the interventions become clearer, the Ministry will determine whether additional funds are required and will adjust its allocations accordingly. In parallel, MECYS is reviewing its overall maintenance budget for public schools to ensure that sufficient funding is available for follow up measures at other institutions as inspection findings come in.

A total of 112 students are directly affected by the temporary closure of the MGDW classrooms. To facilitate preparations for temporary learning spaces and the relocation of classes, the school closed for one instructional day on Friday, November 7, 2025. That day was used by staff to prepare alternate classrooms and coordinate logistics. Since then, instruction has continued without interruption in the temporary locations. Several classes have been reassigned to other available spaces within the MGDW campus, while three classes have been relocated to the Division of Examinations building nearby.

Teaching at the temporary site is monitored by the Adjunct School Manager through daily visits to support staff and ensure instructional quality. Supervised transportation has been arranged for the affected students, and the movement of students to and from the Division of Examinations building is being monitored to ensure safety, proper conduct and punctual arrival at both facilities.

Looking beyond the immediate crisis at MGDW, MECYS outlined its plans for a multi year maintenance and facilities management approach across public schools. Earlier this year, a proposal was introduced to outsource preventive and on call maintenance services for all public schools through a competitive tendering process. The Terms of Reference for this initiative will be drafted by the Division of Public Education in collaboration with the Department of New Works and a contracted structural engineer. The goal is to have a comprehensive, multi year facilities management contract in place ahead of the next school year.

Accountability mechanisms, including performance indicators, reporting requirements and service level expectations, will be built directly into the new contract. MECYS will verify compliance with hygiene and pest prevention standards through routine monitoring by the Division of Public Education, periodic internal inspections and continued regulatory oversight by the VSA Inspectorate.

In its earlier background statement on the Stop Order, MECYS noted that all affected areas at MGDW had been cordoned off and that the Ministry was working closely with VSA and other authorities on a full program of remediation, deep cleaning and sanitation.

The Ministry reiterated that its first priority is ensuring that every child and teacher can learn and work in a safe environment. Minister Gumbs has also stressed that the intervention at MGDW is part of a broader effort to tackle long standing infrastructural and maintenance challenges across the public school system and that expanded inspections and a long term facilities management plan are central to bringing all public schools up to acceptable health and safety standards and supporting learning in conditions of dignity and care.

MECYS reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the health, safety and well being of all students, educators and staff in the public education system. The Ministry will continue to provide timely updates as cleanup efforts progress and will inform parents and staff when it is safe for students and teachers to return to their regular classrooms at the Marie Genevieve de Weever School.

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