Julian Pierre, First Vice-President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and Chairman of its Occupational Safety and Health Committee, has reiterated the urgent need for a standardized industrial cleaning schedule across all public schools. This appeal follows the repeated closure of Deacons Primary School due to a persistent rodent infestation. Speaking to Barbados TODAY during the union’s Professional Development Workshop at Sky Mall, Pierre highlighted that Deacons Primary School was forced to shut down twice in one week—on Monday and again on Thursday—due to the ongoing issue. He also revealed that St Matthew’s Primary School faced similar challenges in recent weeks. Pierre emphasized that while industrial cleaning was conducted at Deacons Primary School, rodent droppings were still found in several areas, underscoring the need for thorough and consistent cleaning practices. He called on the Ministry of Educational Transformation to ensure that cleaning contractors adhere to stringent health and safety standards. Pierre acknowledged recent improvements in the management of the Education Technical Management Unit (ETMU), which has implemented rodent-proofing measures such as installing door sweeps and sealing gaps. However, he stressed the importance of establishing a formal maintenance schedule, particularly during school holidays, to prevent infestations and maintain healthy learning environments. Pierre noted that many older schools have not undergone deep cleaning in over a decade, with some never having received industrial cleaning at all. Despite these challenges, he commended the ETMU for its increased accountability and improved oversight of contractors. The Ministry of Education Transformation has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the latest closure of Deacons Primary School.