UNC MP Fazal Karim, launched a motion in Parliament yesterday condemning Government’s failure on the Education sector. He said the PNM administration had “cut down, cut into and cut out” various facilities for students.
He said this included the failure to complete schools, which left 37 Early Childhood Centres unfinished on the excuse of lack of funds.
“Bush is covering some ECC centres which are unfinished; I see a cow eating grass at Ramai Trace School but students have to get up at 4 am to go to school in a temple. After four years and spending $21 billion on the Education sector, only one primary school has been built - in Tobago. Do your job - don’t complain after four years!”, he said.
Karim said the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) and the UWI Penal campus remained closed, six government secondary schools remained closed also. He said GATE was cut from $750m to $435m and scholarships were cut to 370.
“There are no special needs schools, the School Feeding Programme has been cut by 4,000 meals, school maxi taxi operators can’t get their payments, nor can school book publishers”, said Karim.
He added: “The PP Government had 400 homework centres to assist students, if you don’t have funds, seek corporate sponsorship, get retirees to assist,” Karim said.
He also slammed PNM Moruga MP Lovell Francis—Minister in the Ministry of Education—whom he accused of laughing as he spoke.