Latest update November 27th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- ExxonMobil reports ‘record September’ to shareholders as production peaks to 660,000 barrels
- Suriname to deposit royalty from oil to citizens’ bank accounts
- Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire brokered by US and France, to take effect Wednesday
- Fire completely destroys KN, Bhenas Footwear warehouse leaving hundreds of millions in losses
- We must demand a referendum to end this madness.
Parents blast conditions at Greenwich Park Primary
By Fareeza Haniff
Several frustrated parents awaiting an explanation from the Headmaster
The first day of school at Greenwich Park Primary on the East Bank of Essequibo was far from normal yesterday when parents took their children to the institution of learning for the new school year and were greeted by less than encouraging conditions
According to the parents, there was no water in the building, the compound was half-weeded and the classrooms were dusty.
This was evident when Kaieteur News visited the school yesterday.
Due to the situation, a number of parents gathered at the school and lamented the conditions, while others took their children home, stating that they refused to allow their little ones to be taught in such an unhygienic environment.
“I can’t understand that school closed for two months and nobody saw it fit to come and clean this place up… is we children dem got to come here and this is the environment they will be in…. with not even water to drink?” Gloria Loncke, who has two grandchildren attending the school, told this newspaper yesterday.
Teachers seemed to have little control over the situation and were not even sure if there would be any classes during the course of the day. While the parents accused the cleaners of not cleaning the building, Euvanie Tieschmaker, the head cleaner told Kaieteur News in the presence of several parents that she, along with another colleague, indeed cleaned the school over the holidays – as recent as last Friday – but their efforts to do the job effectively was hindered due to the lack of water at the facility.
It was only when the parents started to bitterly complain about the situation at the school, that the officials, including the Headmaster, Edmund Evelyn, and a GWI Engineer who identified himself as ‘Fowler’ made concerted efforts to get some water at the institution and to get someone to weed the other half of the compound.
Parents also complained about the quality of water at the school, as they noted that it is unhealthy for their children. This was also observed to be true by this newspaper as during the process of pumping up water to the tanks, the precious liquid was observed to be light-brown in colour, and after quiet some time, the sediment which caused the discolouration begun to settle.
The Headmaster told this publication that the problems being experienced at the facility were reported to the Regional Chairman of Region Three, Julius Faerber a long time ago, and it was promised that a plumber would be sent to look into the water situation.
“Since July I reported this matter to the region by way of a letter, as they requested, and I followed up with the Regional Engineer and I spoke with the plumber personally, and they promised to come and check, but to date, I have not seen anybody.”
The School’s Welfare Officer, Mohamed Khan was also present at the school during the confrontation with the parents and the officials, and he promised to look into the situation so that both parents and children can be satisfied.
The Greenwich Park Primary School was constructed approximately two years ago at a cost of some $87 million.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
New $22.5M secondary school for Yupukari Village
Works ongoing on the new secondary school at Yupakuri Village, Region Nine. Kaieteur News- Soon children of Yupukari Village... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
