SANTO DOMINGO. - After the Government announced yesterday afternoon, Sunday, the resumption of teaching and work in the public and private sectors, following several days of recess due to Tropical Storm Melissa, which caused significant losses due to heavy rains in the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (Minerd) reported that classes will resume this Monday, October 27, in the provinces that remain under green and yellow alerts .
Areas under red alert, where the effects of what is now Hurricane Melissa continue to be felt, have not yet returned to normal.
According to the most recent bulletin from the Emergency Operations Center (COE), released on Sunday afternoon, the provinces under red alert are Barahona, Pedernales, Independencia and Bahoruco , where educational authorities have ordered the suspension of teaching as a preventive measure to safeguard the integrity of students, teachers and administrative staff.
yellow alert return to classes and work : San José de Ocoa, Samaná , Dajabón, Azua, Monte Plata, Elías Piña, Peravia, La Altagracia, San Juan, Montecristi, Santo Domingo, San Cristóbal and the National District.
Monseñor Nouel, María Trinidad Sánchez, La Vega, Santiago, Sánchez Ramírez, Santiago Rodríguez, San Pedro de Macorís , Hermanas Mirabal, La Romana, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, El Seibo and Duarte are under green alert teaching will proceed normally.
The Ministry of Education explained that the technical teams of the school districts remain in constant communication with local authorities and submit updated reports on the conditions of the educational facilities.
He also indicated that cases with minor issues, such as leaks, fence repairs , or adjustments, are being addressed immediately by the General Directorate of School Infrastructure, within the corrective and preventive maintenance plan.
The institution stated that, so far, no serious damage in the country's public schools, and that the reported incidents are minor and under control.
The Ministry of Education reiterated that it remains under constant surveillance of Hurricane Melissa and is coordinating with emergency and civil protection agencies, with the aim of promptly adopting any necessary measures should weather conditions require it.
Hurricane Melissa
The director of the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET ), engineer Gloria Ceballos, explained that Hurricane Melisa reached category 4, with maximum sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour, and was located 167 kilometers south of Kingston, Jamaica.
Ceballos indicated that the storm will move over Jamaica on Monday, then affect southeastern Cuba, and finally move into the open Atlantic. He explained that its slow movement was the cause of the prolonged rains that occurred across much of the country over the weekend.
