School Closure Leaves Parents Fuming – 6AM Late Notice

A statement released “too late,” according to some parents, has left them furious this morning as it announced that there would be no school this Tuesday. Confusion arose as some students were already on their way to their schools.

Heavy rain had fallen overnight and continued to do so this morning in several regions, leading many to wonder whether classes would be held. Some areas had already reported accumulations of water.

At 6 a.m. this morning, a weather bulletin announced that the heavy rain warning that had been in effect since yesterday had been extended until 6 p.m. on Tuesday. However, a message from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre asked the public, especially pilgrims, to “stay indoors” a few minutes later.

The parents and those who have to go to work are increasingly puzzled. “How can the NDDRMC tell us to stay ‘indoors’ now when I’m already on my way to drop off my children at school? What should I do? Will schools be open? It’s already 6:17 a.m.!” wonders a mother walking briskly in the rain to catch her bus.

On social media, comments are numerous and messages are flooding the media’s mailboxes asking whether there will be school or not. “I’ll be late for work! What should I do? Will there be school?” The ministries of Education and Gender Equality and Wellbeing later announced at around 6:30 a.m. that “there will be no classes in public and private institutions today” and “nurseries will be closed today.”

Many students are already on their way to their schools, and many are already on buses. A statement from Météo Maurice announcing a heavy rain warning appears later, less than an hour after its forecast of a heavy rain warning.

The National Emergency Operations Command subsequently asks students to go home directly. Parents are getting more and more frustrated with these announcements, some of which they discover on social media or on the radio:

“Definitely, they did not realise that children had already left the house at 6 a.m.?”

“When children have already left, some have already left their daycare, then they announce that there is a heavy rain warning and say that there are no classes…”

“A radar worth Rs500 million is being used as an incubator?”

“They have been monitoring since yesterday and can’t make a decision early this morning? Do they really have to look out the window to see if it’s raining or not? Students and parents were warned too late.”

“There are children who are on their way and do not have cell phones. What do they do? Once they reach school, they will unfortunately find out that they have to return home? With more risks? After the announcement that the heavy rain warning was still in effect, I hurried to get ready and prepare my children, who are still on their way.”

Note that Météo Maurice announces cloudy developments with scattered showers today.

Source: Le Mauricien