As students from around the country look forward to the beginning of the school holidays next week, for most in the west, its school as usual.

Education Ministry Permanent Secretary Doctor Brij Lal has requested all parents of students in the west to give their children all the support they need.

“I have a humble request, lost quite a bit of time and the schools to be open for an additional week for the teachers to cover the lost time.”

Schools in the West were closed for weeks after the recent floods, while some were also used as evacuation centres.