Latest update April 5th, 2025 12:59 AM
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Uitvlugt Primary students sent home
– meet appalling physical conditions as school reopens
While teachers across Guyana welcomed students yesterday at the beginning of the New Year, those at Uitvlugt Primary School had to send home over 375 students since the institution’s compound was filled with dirty water and surrounded by tall bushes, while parents complained of the presence of dangerous reptiles and wild animals.
Members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and parents yesterday expressed their concerns since they believed that officials have turned a ‘blind eye’ on the school, as the compound “houses wild creatures and not students”. Reports are that the school has been in a deplorable state for quite some time.
Fence-high bushes surround the school compound
When Kaieteur News visited the school, the compound was flooded and surrounded by huge bushes. A dead snake was also seen hanging on the fence, with one parent indicating that it was the fourth one that had been killed for the day. “We done kill three this morning in the school,” a parent noted while explaining that a snake was once seen in one of the classrooms.
All the classes yesterday were empty, entrances to the washroom were blocked with thick, mucky water and it was noted by one of the parents that several children already met with accidents due to the physical situation of the school.
“My daughter skate and break her hand sometime back… this morning one child fell down,” a female parent said.
This newspaper understands that the situation stemmed from a poor drainage system. Parents have refused to send their children out to school until the matter is sorted out.
Coreen Baird, a member of the PTA, explained that the land around the school is low and when the rain falls, water would come in and surround the school, since only one side of the compound is guttered and that too is of no use since it is “stuffed and blocked up with other objects” which prevents the water from flowing into the canal.
“No one does come to visit this school. Me and some other guys does come and chop down the bushes and weed in front because we got children coming here” Colin Paul, a parent, added.
According to Simone Ifill, another member of the PTA, “We have made countless efforts to address this matter but all were in vain. We sent in a letter to the National Democratic Council, we even speak to the Regional Education Officer, but all we get is sheer promises.”
“It’s not like if the children are not performing, last year the school had one hundred percent passes at Common Entrance… with students qualified to attend the top schools in Georgetown.” Ifill emphasized.
“Today the NDC is pumping the water out, if rain falls tomorrow it’s the same problem again,” lamented Navita Persaud, a parent of three.
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