The almost forgotten ‘jungle’ school in Moleson Creek

Aug 31, 2012 News

School reopens in a few days, but the question on the lips of residents of Moleson Creek is, will the students be able to attend?
The Moleson Creek Primary School currently sits in the middle of a virtual jungle and access to the learning institution at this time is almost impassable/impossible.
Moleson Creek is one of the nearest points between Guyana and neighbouring Suriname.
Apart from the jungle, access to the school is treacherous, due to the state of the road. The school is surrounded by big bushes; the compound is also overcome with tall grasses which practically cover the school.
Residents say that the school and compound presently pose a danger to students as the entire area is infested with snakes, wasps, bats and mosquitoes.

In the compound of the Moleson Creek Primary School.

The students cannot use the road which is badly damaged and is now practically a swamp. To get to school, the students will have to wade through waist-deep slush and compete with the big John Deere tractors that are the only means of transportation in the area at this time.
The distance from the main Corentyne highway to the Orealla Primary school is a mere two miles, but to travel from the main road to the school will take virtually two hours. The school is the last building in the area and about one mile away from the closest resident.
The residents are not too sure why the government decided to build the school so far away from the residential area.
According to a number of angry residents, when the children have to attend school, they are forced to trudge alone through the “jungle” and the mud.
What is ironic is that from where the centre of the population lives to the school, the road is even worse.
One resident commented: “While you can travel with these small tractors up to here, it is worse going further down. The only means of reaching by the school is by the big tractors.”
The ride to the school was a rock and roll affair. By the time it was over, the media team was all soiled, muddy and bruised. Some members even suffered upset stomachs.
According to residents, when school closed for the August holidays, there were about 60 students registered. There was one part time teacher.
Residents of the Moleson Creek community are not certain what will happen when school is officially opened for the commencement of classes for the new school year. The school does not have a permanent teacher and the person that was in charge last term is a retiree from Orealla.
There is also a house for the teacher but the place is lonely and is devoid of comforts.
During the visit, the residents of Moleson Creek called on Education Minister, Priya Manickchand to intervene.
Thieves have taken away four water tanks that were once installed at the school. Now, whenever school closes management is forced to remove the tanks to a resident’s house.
They said that Regional Education Officer, Ms. Shafiran Bhajan, does not help them and their many pleas have fallen on deaf ears as she usually brushes them off with a promise.