A pigeon infestation, bird droppings on desks, malfunctioning toilets and a leaking roof are among the woes facing pupils of the Marabella Anglican Boys and Girls Schools.
The children were relocated from their schools five years ago with a promise that a new school would be constructed and completed within ten months. Yesterday, a group of parents staged a placard demonstration along the main road in Marabella calling for the completion of the school.
PTA member Allan Campbell said construction started in late 2014 but stopped mid-2015 because of an issue with the contractor’s payment. He said the school is 60 to 65 per cent completed. Meanwhile, the students who were relocated to the pan theatre on the compound of St Paul’s Anglican School in San Fernando have been suffering.
“We were informed by the Ministry of Education that they knew nothing about this building. What is on their record is the two old schools,” Campbell said.
He said since then the ministry has kept promising that the school would be completed.
“The children are facing unsanitary conditions, the toilets not functioning, the roof leaking, old Celotex ceiling, children suffering from asthma and related diseases and pigeon infestation,” Campbell complained.
He said last year a contractor had to be hired to clean the pan theatre, particularly where the boys are being housed.
“The acoustic is bad, not conducive to teaching or learning. Teachers are getting sick too,” he said.
Campbell said the boys’ population has reduced significantly, from 256 to 113, because parents have been taking their children out of the school.
“There is another problem where the children are being taunted by children of St Paul’s, calling them squatters and telling them to get out of their school.
“I am calling on the Minister of Education and the Prime Minister also to have a heart, (complete) not only this school but the 22 schools that are incomplete. I want to speak on their behalf, complete those schools as soon as possible. This school, in particular, we want to have children there in the new academic year.
“They have seven months. We want our children to be back in Marabella.”
Marabella West Councillor La Verne Smith said she spoke with San Fernando West MP Faris Al-Rawi who said the school is one of the 22 on the Education Ministry’s priority list to be completed. She said Al-Rawi promised to meet with parents on Wednesday.