A pregnant teacher at Wisburg Secondary School was admitted to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), after she experienced fainting spells having inhaled the fumes from malathion and gas oil used to spray the school on Wednesday evening.
The Region 10 Department of Education was forced yesterday morning to suspend classes at the Wisburg Secondary School following the strong smell of malathion and gas oil that was used to spray the building. However, teachers were instructed to remain in the auditorium or be placed at other schools if they wanted to be paid.
Malathion is used in conjunction with diesel fuel to fog an area where there is an infestation of mosquitoes.
The spraying had been a demand by the parents of students of the school who had locked its gates on Wednesday to complain about conditions there, including flooding and a mosquito infestation.
According to reliable sources, the pregnant teacher went to the washroom in the office area and came out feeling unwell. She was rushed to the LHC and was immediately admitted. Her condition is listed as stable but she remains under the watchful eyes of the medical staff.
The source said that the smell was so strong teachers had to cover their noses with thick linen even in the compound. “It was such an uncaring act of the education department to tell us that we had to stay in the auditorium with that heavy smell. None of them came over to check the situation but they wanted us to stay there in that condition,” said a teacher.
The teacher said that after they insisted that they were not prepared to work under the conditions, they were instructed to place themselves at other schools in the area. This led them to travel to the education office at Mackenzie, where they were given a hearing and then placed at other schools for two days.
In the meantime, students will remain at home and return to school on Monday providing the situation is improved.
