The Ministry of Education has announced that all government schools would reopen next week and asked all teachers and staff to have some leniency with students who may not be fully equipped.

Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin said a help desk has been established to help in this process.

“Whether its rent assistance, whether its assistance with the loss of furniture, whether its uniform assistance for the schools, all of that is included in the assistance being given,”

“Also all of the centers in New Providence as throughout the family islands are all open and are providing the same services,” she said

The minister says there have already been hundreds of persons requesting assistance.

“The staff is working very diligently to ensure that persons who are in need, persons who have been without electricity, and who may have lost food, all get assistance,” she said.

“With regard to school uniforms, where children may have lost uniforms, social services is assisting in that area as well.”

There are certain vendors that have been used during the summer, who will participate in aiding with school uniforms during the emergency period, according to the minister.

Those same vendors would also accept the vouchers and gift cards that are given out in order to assist families.

During this time an assessment would also be done by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to gather information on just where households are in the country, in terms of assistance needed prior to and post Hurricane Matthew.

All government schools with the exception of C.I Gibson and Government High School will reopen on Tuesday October 25th, 2016.

School openings were delayed due to the loss of electricity in some 50 percent of the public schools, according to the Ministry of Education.