SEVERAL schools in the Corporate Area experienced lower than usual attendance levels yesterday because of the uncertainty surrounding the extradition request of West Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Students at several schools were said to be nervous and tense as rumours about the safety of the capital city, especially downtown Kingston were rife.

A source at the Denham Primary School, located opposite Coke's community base of Tivoli Gardens, told the Observer that school went on "as normally as was possible", although students and teachers were described as "tense" and "on the alert".

The source said many roads in the communities surrounding the school located, on Spanish Town Road, were blocked, but that the school population had encountered similar situations before.

"It's not the first time we have had disturbance in the constituency. The children and staff are aware of what is happening," the source said. "There is not much new we can do to prepare them which we have not done already."

The source said attendance at the school fell by 35 per cent yesterday, but that there were some classes with fewer than half of the students. School was dismissed half an hour early at 2:00 pm.

At St Richard's Primary on Red Hills Road further north, principal Betty Ann Barrett said school proceeded normally yesterday with no reduced attendance. "It's business as usual here. It's as if nothing is happening", she said.

Meanwhile, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) Michael Stewart called on the Ministry of Education to issue a statement reassuring students and staff of their safety, and for security to be increased in school zones.

"Persons are on edge especially in certain communities and it is not good for the education system, especially for those sitting CSEC and CAPE exams," Stewart said.

The JTA president said reports indicated that the turn out at schools was good despite the tension being experienced. He said although he had no reports of any incidents, "teachers have been very watchful and careful as the situation is quite unpredictable."