Minister of Education Ronald Jones says Government schools remain open, despite this morning’s crippling strike by bus drivers that has grounded the operations of the state-run Transport Board.
The action, which took commuters by surprise, has dislocated hundreds of people, including scores of school children.
Among the affected students are those currently sitting CXC and CAPE examinations.
Saying that he did not want to send mixed messages, Jones told reporters that schools would remain open today despite the current absence of buses to shuttle the students to their classes. The Ministry has however decided that students doing regional exams can go to the nearest exam centre.
The bus drivers have been off the job since five this morning.
Spokesman Neville Kirton has raised concern about hiring practices at the Board. He also said there were a number of other grievances, pointing out the workers were eager to be off the job since yesterday, but had decided to give way to primary school students sitting their Common Entrance examinations.