The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

CC SWEETING Senior High School will remain closed until Tuesday following Monday’s electrical explosion that injured three students, Education Minister Chester Cooper said yesterday.

The school is expected to reopen on Tuesday, October 13, after necessary electrical repairs are completed and the campus is thoroughly tested.

Mr Cooper said the decision was made to ensure the school is safe before students and staff return. He said virtual learning opportunities were also being provided to help students keep up with their schoolwork.

“We want to ensure that the schools are a safe and healthy environment as a result of the transformer malfunction. You already know that we've had an issue at CC Sweeting High School, but we've also had issues in the surrounding neighbourhood with other schools as well, including Eva Hilton and the Centre for the Deaf.

“We're going to keep CC Sweeting School closed until we are absolutely sure that the issue is contained and the environment is safe. And we are already deploying some virtual learning opportunities to ensure that our children generally keep up to speed with their work.

“But safety is our number one priority, and the school is going to remain closed for the remainder of this week. And hopefully by Tuesday, when school reopens, CC Sweeting will open as well.”

The ministry said in a letter to administrators, teachers and staff that the extended closure would allow for the completion of electrical repairs and testing.

Teachers have previously raised concerns about ongoing electrical problems at the school, saying Monday’s explosion was the fourth fire-related incident since classes resumed over the summer.

Three students were injured shortly after 11am on Monday when an electrical fault caused an explosion near a classroom. Their injuries were not considered severe after being assessed by the school nurse.

One teacher said the school had experienced power problems since 2023, but the issue had escalated this school year to transformer explosions, fires, sparks and damaged electrical fixtures.

Teachers have also questioned whether the school’s electrical infrastructure was adequate to support the 28 air-conditioning units installed over the summer.

Bahamas Educators Managerial Union president Stephen McPhee said the electrical problems were not new and had become more serious as the school added air-conditioning units, technology and other systems.

Mr McPhee said an electrical upgrade was already in the works and the union was calling for it to be expedited.