Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh has not yet received an official report on Tuesday's incident in which an iron gate at the Point Fortin ASJA Mosque fell on a schoolboy. Seven-year-old Jameel Ali was still warded yesterday at the San Fernando General Hospital in a stable condition, with injuries to his head and one leg.
The Standard Two pupil attends Point Fortin Asja Primary, which is separated from the mosque by a wire and concrete fence.The child was closing the gate around 7.45 am when it fell on him. ASJA officials said the student had no permission to be on the mosque compound.
Interviewed during a tour of schools in the Naparima constituency yesterday, Gopeesingh said the incident did not happen on the school compound. However, he said he would be meeting with school boards about not allowing students to stay in school after or before school hours without permission.
The ministry's media relations co-ordinator Yolanda Morales-Carvalho said the ministry had received a report on the incident on Tuesday and Student Support Services was providing counselling to the child.
ASJA president general Yacoob Ali said the school supervisor visited the child and reported he was resting comfortably."The child went on his own and opened the gate. He shouldn't have done that. However, we will ensure that the child is well taken care of," Ali said.