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Golden Grove Secondary students, parents protest deplorable condition
As the new school term commenced yesterday, parents of students attending the Golden Grove Secondary School, East Coast Demerara, yesterday staged a protest against the deplorable conditions at the institution.
The parents called for the immediate closure of the school and for the Ministry of Education to step in.
Member of Parliament and resident of Golden Grove, Ernest Elliot, yesterday told Kaieteur News that a number of parents and concerned villagers held a meeting at the school on Sunday to address the problems.
They had all agreed to a protest to voice their concerns yesterday.
Elliot said that the school should have been renovated and extended some six years ago. According to the MP a programme was in place to help facilitate this, but it was neglected. According to Elliot the children are made to sit in a classroom which is not conducive for learning. 
He said that the classroom lacks furniture and other basic necessities. They don’t have good toilet facilities or good windows to protect the children from the elements, he added.
Elliot stressed that the government needs to pay more interest into the situation.
Another parent, Madonna Meredith, who has one child attending the school, said that the Ministry of Education must be more involved.
Shamdai Narine, who has her young daughter attending the school, said that she was not pleased with the conditions.
The woman said that there was no running water at the school, the toilets are not functional and that there is an unbearable stench emanating from the classrooms.
Shonette Giles, who has a niece attending the school, said that a new school is needed. The woman explained that the school flooring is falling apart.
She stressed that there is no running water or electricity in the school.
“How can children learn in these conditions….its not conducive for learning” Giles stressed.
According to the woman, another parent David Gentle, was shocked by an exposed electrical wire while at the school on Sunday.
Giles said that parents and other concerned villagers had congregated at the school in an effort to address the condition of the school.
Yesterday, as parents were out protesting the police were called in. Three van loads of police were seen outside the compound while several ranks were inside of the school’s compound.
As this newspaper attempted to speak with the head teacher, the woman became hostile and shouted at reporters.
“Get out of the school I don’t want to say anything,” the headmistress said.
Deplorable Toilets….
As the parents walked around the school’s compound a number of them pointed to the toilet facilities. Inside the toilet area, the scent hits like a jackhammer.
Some of the classrooms close to the toilet area were without any furniture. The concrete water fountain in the school’s compound was in a terrible state. Moss was everywhere.
The home economics department and the science laboratory are non functional and have been this way for some time.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh has said that he was extremely concerned about the situation.
According to the Minister these schools’ repairs and other things come under the direct command of the regional authority not central schools.
Baksh said that when these things happen they interrupt the delivery of education. The Minister further told Kaieteur News that some work was done on the building but more needed to be done.
According to Baksh, new windows and a gate would be put in place. In regards to the furniture situation the Minister said that some were sent to the school yesterday afternoon and another set will be sent today.
He further told Kaieteur News that the toilet situation was caused by broken pipes, and that is being rectified.
Parents have stated that they would be holding another protest if the needs are not met in the immediate future.
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