Educational institutions in the Durango Lagunera region experienced minor absenteeism and some infrastructure damage last Monday due to rainfall.
Regarding absenteeism, Ulises Adame de León, head of the Undersecretariat of Education, stated that the absence rate was below 10%—primarily at the preschool level—driven by parents’ concerns that conditions might worsen as the day progressed.
“Whenever there is an unusual weather event—like rain, which is uncommon here—there is some absenteeism. This is largely due to the difficulty children face in getting to school, whether because of street conditions or issues at home, but the numbers aren’t significant.”
Infrastructure damage
Regarding damage to schools, he noted that the main reports involved roof leaks; officials will work alongside parents to carry out repairs.
While highlighting the benefits of rainfall in a desert area like La Laguna, he also noted that such weather events often expose underlying infrastructure problems in schools.
“The primary damage stems from the intense heat; as things dry out, waterproofing layers and roof membranes crack, and that’s when the problems arise.”
Although he did not specify the exact number of affected schools, he highlighted a particular area in Lerdo that recently experienced a severe storm; almost all schools there suffered damage to their roofing membranes and waterproofing seals.
No suspension of classes
In this instance, while most buildings experienced roof leaks, there have been no suspensions of classes so far.
The undersecretary reiterated that, despite the impact of the rains, the reported damage has been minor and has not disrupted normal school activities in the region.
Source: msn
