Education Minister Anthony Garcia said yesterday that repair work on five schools with challenges have been completed in time for the first day of the new school year today.
Tens of thousands of students will return to classes after the July-August holidays.
The ministry spent $105 million on repair work to 194 schools in the last eight weeks.
On Friday, Minister Garcia listed five schools—Couva West Secondary, Aranguez North Secondary, Warrenville Government Primary, Fishing Pond Government Primary and Woodbrook Secondary Schools, which were still to be completed.
In the release issued yesterday, Garcia said, “Those challenges have been overcome and all repairs are completed at these schools.”
Garcia said, “In instances where schools have been decanted due to ongoing repairs, the Ministry has ensured that the requisite facilities are provided for teachers to deliver the curriculum in an environment most suitable for teaching and learning and students have access to transport and other services to ensure they are not denied their education.”
He added, “The cesspits at Warrenville Presbyterian Primary were cleaned by workers from the Tunapuna Regional Corporation, the cracks sealed and the school sanitized. At Aranguez North Secondary, the leaking underground water lines were repaired, both of these schools are ready for opening on Monday. Meanwhile, at Couva West Secondary School, WASA workers are repairing the leaking underground water lines.”
The released added that the Ministry of Education also engaged a contractor to construct two box drains and undertake other infrastructural works at Fishing Pond Presbyterian Primary School. It said that these works have been completed for the school to open.
As for students and teachers attending the Woodbrook Secondary, the release stated that “extensive roof, ceilings, and electrical repairs have been completed at Woodbrook Secondary School and MTS workers are removing all debris from the compound to facilitate the opening of school tomorrow.”
Minister Garcia also told CNC3 that a ministry official had been sent to check on the cleanliness of the Belmont Government Primary School after teachers complained of a pigeon infestation.
Teachers there said they were promised earlier this year that it would have been addressed. However, they said that as of Friday the situation was still dire and they were contemplating staying away today.
But Garcia said they partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture to fix the problem and the school’s principal assured him that classes will resume today.
The minister later informed CNC3 that the ministry official who was sent to the school reported that there was no longer a problem and that the Maintenance, Training and Security Company (MTS) was standing by to sanitise the compound.
As of Friday, the specific challenges related to the five schools were as follows:
1) Fishing Pond Presbyterian School: Incomplete civil works. Drains were due to be covered.
2) Woodbrook Secondary School: Roof leaks and problems with flooring. Work was partially completed.
3) Warrenville Presbyterian School: There was an issue with the sewer system which had to be emptied. A new sewer system has to be installed in the long term.
4) Aranguez North Secondary School: Ongoing water leaks. A contractor had been assigned to come up with a solution to prevent the school from closing which has happened in the past.
5) Couva West Secondary School: Water leaks.