There were smiles and excitement yesterday on the second day of the new school term for thousands of students. For many of them it was their first day since Monday’s boycott by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) resulted in either students being sent back home or kept home by their parents.
However, students and teachers at Princes Town Presbyterian No 1, which is the only school in the country operating on a shift system, continue to face several issues. After the school building was condemned and subsequently demolished, accommodations were made for them at Princes Town Presbyterian No 2 on a temporary basis. But, that was seven years ago.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president Nola Ramjohn-Karim said although a few children turned out to school on Monday, they had to be sent home due to electrical issues. The issue was rectified and school resumed as normal yesterday.
However, she said, “It’s disheartening to say the least, to see that we are back on the shift system. After five years of shift and two years online we start this year now back on the shift system. I mean the Ministry of Education is looking at the impact that the COVID pandemic had on schooling, on education and SEA and everything else, no one is recognising that the shift system has a serious impact on our students and no one is doing anything to alleviate that issue.”
Responding to those who question why parents continue to send their children to that school, the PTA president said, “What are parents to do? How far are you going to go to get a space in a school. Many parents have applied to other schools in the area and were turned down because there is only so much spaces in those other schools. Then you have to look at the area. If you live in a particular area you are not going to go out of area with the high cost of transportation and everything, it is difficult to go anywhere and they not going to accept you anyhow.” She added that there are two housing schemes near the school and a third is being developed.
“Where would all of those children go to school?”
Meanwhile, Kenwin Alexander who dropped off his daughter at St Gabriels Girls’ RC School said he kept his daughter home on Monday but he was supportive of the teachers’ stance against the government’s four per cent wage offer. Kerrianne Hamilton-Thompson, parent of a St Pauls Anglican Boys student said she was saddened but also excited that her son has started primary school.
“He was prepared, he took his bag and went straight to his class,” she added, Hamilton-Thompson said her other son who is in Standard One was happy to return to school.
In Port-of-Spain, Matthew Arneaud said that his daughter was more than excited to finally attend her first day of First Year at St Patrick’s Newtown Girls’ RC School and was relieved that teachers were back out.
“She has been speaking about it for the last two weeks and she was just happy to wake up this morning. She woke up before her parents and got ready and stuff,” said the proud father.
Standard four pupil Tashia Thomas said she was disappointed not being able to attend school yesterday as she anticipated because of Monday’s strike by teachers.
“I wanted to see my classroom but today I’m getting to see my new classroom and I’m getting to see my classmates and the same teachers I had before,” she shared.
Some parents still had a lot to say about Monday’s strike. Nerrisa Kanchan shared how Monday was a setback for her son but was confident yesterday morning dropping him off at Richmond Street Boys’ Anglican School.
“As far as we know everything should be back to normal from today so they are here. It was a bit disappointing after all the preparations but they are here,” said Kanchan.
Parents said that they are hoping that there will be no further disruptions during the next fourteen weeks of the first school term.
