Most of the island's schools will open Monday but seven schools, including CedarBridge senior school, are still shut because of floods and outages after Hurricane Fabian.

Education Minister Paula Cox said Government will be updating the public as soon as those schools were fixed while St. George's Preparatory students will start next Monday after being relocated to St. George's community school.

Ms Cox said Renaissance Re and St. George's groups had offered help and cash for the school which lost five classrooms when a tornado hit.

"All schools except St. George's Preparatory are watertight and structurally sound. Some schools have suffered water damage but none of this damage prohibits operations," Ms Cox said.

"The key issues are electricity and flushing.

"Belco is working closely with the Ministry of Education and Development to ensure all schools have electricity by Sunday."

Eleven out of 12 pre-schools, 13 out of 18 primary schools, four out of five middle schools and one out of two senior schools will open Monday with teachers working throughout the weekend to clear the mess.

Classrooms with boarded windows will be ventilated with floor fans if ceiling fans aren't working, said Mrs Cox. All boarded windows will be replaced within three weeks.

Debris remains at some schools with students being warned off until it is removed while mature damaged trees will be replanted.

Bottles of drinking water are being sent to schools after the health department said tank water needed testing.

Cell phones are being given to staff at schools without landlines or staff will be reimbursed for using their own for September.

Students are expected to wear uniforms but teachers will be sensitive to those who can't because of washing problems at home said Ms. Cox.

Ms Cox appealed for people not to clog Grotto Bay car park as children arrived to get ferries in the east end (see advert on page 16).

She urged people to buy The Royal Gazette on Monday for further updates on power being restored to schools.

Problems should be reported to the facilities manager on 294-9049.