Parents of pupils at St Rose’s Girls’ RC are angry, after an accommodation system at another RC school in Port-of-Spain fell through yesterday when the shuttle system failed to arrive.
The school, located at Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, has faced challenges in the past year, as parts of it are cordoned off due to dilapidation. The school has also been earmarked for reconstruction.
At present, pupils are being accommodated at Rosary Boys’ RC School and others are supposed to be housed at St Theresa’s Girls’ RC Primary School.
However, yesterday, parents who contacted the media said two hours after dropping off their children, they were called to return to pick them up.
Parent Takeisha Clairmont claimed the maxi-taxi hired to shuttle the students from St Rose’s Girls’ RC to St Theresa’s RC never arrived. She added that a total of 75 children were affected and they are now urging the Ministry of Education and the Catholic Education Board of Management to intervene.
“Next month will make it a year since the school has been shut down and the ministry has promised parents that they will house the students in St Clair, but that did not happen. However, last year in October, they told us that Standard One and Two students would be joined with students at the St Theresa’s Girls’ RC School and on Friday, they told us that the school will be on rotation and the students will have full-time school,” Clairmont said.
She said parents were under the impression everything was in order for the pupils, including their transport.
“The students were supposed to be shuttled to the school this morning, however, this did not happen. We were told that a 12-seater maxi-taxi was supposed to be used but the maxi taxi never showed up and imagine this maxi is expected to carry 76 children to and from the new location.”
Guardian Media obtained a message from the school’s Parents Teacher’s Association to parents, which stated: “I regret to inform you that no shuttle has arrived and will not be arriving today until further notice. We are awaiting word from PTSC and the ministry as to when this service is to officially begin. I humbly apologise for this inconvenience. We go back to rotation from tomorrow until further notice and students 1 and 3 will return to Rosary Boys’ RC School today.”
Guardian Media contacted the Education Ministry on the matter but was told by officials that it was being “looked into” and a statement would be released soon.