With schools set to reopen today, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Association (TTUTA) Martin Lum Kin says they were not given any updates regarding school repairs over the vacation period.
Although Lum Kin said TTUTA has not received any official reports of any school not set to reopen, the union will be liaising with district officials to get reports of possible challenges faced by teachers and students at the country’s schools today.
The president also wanted to bring to the public’s awareness a situation that, according to him, TTUTA members have been subjected to for the past three years at the Aranguez North Secondary School.
“There have been no electrical repairs conducted on Block A. These repairs were necessary due to the theft of copper electrical cables,” Lum Kin said, adding that the secondary school has been without facilities for three years to “adequately house and deliver the curriculum in physics, chemistry, biology, integrated science, agriculture, technical drawing, and other subjects.”
He said that the school was dealing with numerous plumbing leakages, including the recently laid replacement underground pipeline system, and that issues with ventilation were causing teachers to incur “health challenges.”
“The HVAC system was replaced with 150 split units, which, apart from not providing adequate ventilation, have not been serviced. Some are also in need of repair. Teachers have been experiencing health challenges due to this issue,” Lum Kin said.
He also expressed doubt about the suitability of the conditions to teach students, citing a lack of whiteboards and other pieces of furniture.
“The school is facing a lack of furniture as they require some 360 desks and chairs. This lack of adequate whiteboards and furniture puts a strain on space as students and teachers must find suitable areas to teach on a daily basis. TTUTA, along with members of staff, are fearful that these offerings will not be available come the new academic year, 2024–2025, because of a lack of space as Block A continues to be unoccupied,” Lum Kin said.
Saying there is only one safety officer on the school’s compound at any one time, and to make up for the lack of security, Lum Kin said that TTUTA officers along with St George East education officials are set to visit the school around 9:30 am, offering help to the association’s members in addition to learning more on the matters plaguing the institution.
“TTUA is calling on the Minister of Education to address this situation at the Aranguez North Secondary School as a matter of grave concern. And this should be done as soon as possible,” Lum Kin said.
Efforts to contact the Education Minister were unsuccessful.