STAFF and students at a government school breathed a sigh of relief yesterday, after sweating their way through three days of power cuts.

The electricity first went off at Zallaq Primary and Intermediate School for Boys on Sunday, meaning teachers and pupils had to cope without air-conditioning as temperatures in Bahrain soared.

However, an Education Ministry spokeswoman told the GDN the problem had been resolved yesterday.

"Students are going to school - they were not forced to leave the school or were not transferred to other schools," she said.

"Classes were held regularly and everything is back to normal."

However, a teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, said students and staff were forced to leave early due to the power cuts, shortly before important exams are due to take place.

"We cannot sit here without electricity and of course children are unable to focus on their studies," they said.

"It's impossible to read or write in the dark without air-conditioners or fans working.

"Students complained as they are going to have their final exams next week, and they could not concentrate on their studies.

"It was so hot and the problem was not just for a day, but since Sunday - so it's been three days."

One student said people had been leaving school by 11am because they couldn't take it anymore.

"We were sweating and smelled bad," they said. "For the past few days we have been leaving school early, some at 11am, as there was no point sitting in school and doing nothing."