Wales Community High School overcrowded

Feb 08, 2010 News

Parents of children who attend the Wales Community High School on the West Bank of Demerara are frustrated at what they say is confusion at the School, which approximately has 1,300 children in attendance.

Some of the unattended children in their classroom.

According to Nicola Brown, whose son attends the school, which is expected to be renamed Wales Secondary School, some children attend classes from 12:30 in the afternoon to 4:30pm since the school cannot accommodate the Primary and Secondary areas at the same time and day because of overcrowding.
She said the Primary students attend classes from 8:00 to 12:00 hours and cannot receive their full lessons since the time span differs from the usual.
According to one parent, the school has a New Headmistress who took over late last year and she is doing a good job.
However, the parent said she has learnt that the Secondary students would be moved to Patentia where things would return to normal and the overcrowding would not be a major issue.
Another parent told Kaieteur News that the children cannot focus in such a crowded school and the facilities need proper maintenance.
She said that the children need to be disciplined because there is always lots of plastic and litter around the school and unruly behaviour.
According to sources, the school has 40 teachers, 17 of which teach the Primary Division.
There are also and two cleaners and two night security.
Minister of Education, Sheik Baksh, has disclosed that a new school building in Patentia will be formally handed over this week by the contractors.
A team would be set up by the Ministry that includes the Head Teachers to ensure that the system is smooth.