The new school term has failed to reopen on a bright note as 29 schools across the country remain closed to facilitate private candidates writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) today and tomorrow. Five other schools will remain closed because of incomplete repairs. An advertisement by the Ministry of Education in a daily newspaper indicated that the 29 schools will remain closed to allow private CSEC candidates to write mathematics and English Language. The advertisement also stated that students in Forms One and Two at the Couva West Secondary, Bon Air Secondary and El Dorado West Secondary will have no school today and tomorrow. In the St George East education district, eight schools have been closed, while in Victoria, six schools have been affected. No schools in the education district of St Patrick were affected.
NPTA disappointed
President of the National Parent/Teacher Association (NPTA) Zena Ramatali said she was disappointed several schools had to remain closed. In an interview yesterday, Ramatali said: "I'm a little disappointed that these schools have to be closed...The closure of one school is too much, but for 34?" She said students would be affected by loss of teaching time and she hoped teachers would ensure there was make-up time.
"We need to look at this situation of the school building repair programme and ensure it is properly executed over the vacation because it means that students will be without school," Ramatali said. "I hope those schools that need repair, that they speed up the process," she added. She said some students would be unable to regain the time lost. "I hope there is some way teachers can complete the syllabus on time and that the loss of school time be minimised," Ramatali said. "I hope that the non-affected schools have received the necessary resources to deliver to students in a holistic manner."
TTUTA wants smooth start
President of Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Roustan Job is hoping for a smooth reopening of schools today. Job said there were repairs going on in some schools but he had not been informed that this would prevent any schools from reopening. "We hope that there is a smooth reopening of schools and there are no hitches," he said. "Heavy repairs are usually done during the August holidays so we hope that the repairs done during the Christmas break will be completed...The three-week break is not a very long time." In a press release, the Ministry of Education announced that there would be no school for students of the Mt Pleasant Government Primary who are to be relocated to California Government Primary. Arrangements are being made with PTSC to meet the students' transportation needs.
In addition, repairs continue at the Point Fortin Anglican Primary School, while the Charlieville Presbyterian is still under construction. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to finalise repairs to the Tunapuna Secondary School and St Augustine Secondary School for their reopening. The Morvant/Laventille Secondary School will be ready for opening today. While construction is still ongoing on the school's premises, safety and security measures have been put in place to ensure the well-being of students, teachers, staff and parents.