Linden schools reopen, but several issues prevail

Jan 09, 2013 News

Schools reopened on Monday with thousands of students turning out all over the country.
In Linden, APNU Member of Parliament, Rennisson Morian, took the opportunity to visit several of these learning institutions, where he made observations and held brief discussions with school heads and other officials about pertinent issues affecting the smooth running of the schools.

APNU’s Rennisson Morian is greeted by one of the pupils.

Issues highlighted included lack of running water in at least three schools, a classroom without lights due to defective switches at Wismar Hill Primary, and the still to be completed rehabilitation work to the staff room of the Wismar/Christianburg Secondary School.
At the Christianburg Primary School, there was a good turnout, and students were already busy with assignments set by their teachers. There were no complaints; however one lucky child whose haversack strap was torn was presented with a new one by Morian, who had walked with a couple for just such an emergency.
But lack of water was a major cause for concern at St Aidan’s Primary, Wismar Hill Primary and the Wismar/Christianburg Secondary (Multi).
At all three schools improper plumbing infrastructure was blamed for the water situation, while at the Multilateral school, inadequate water storage facilities plus the huge school population was said to compound the problem.
Several teachers at this school were at the time of yesterday’s visit on their lunch break, in a staff room where debris from rehabilitative works that were carried out was strewn around the floor. Broken tiles also littered the floor.
A fire over a year ago damaged this section of the school, and even though some repairs were done, these were less than satisfactory, Morian stated.
He pointed out that a teacher had to receive fifteen stitches to her rear, after a toilet bowl shattered under her, although she was not in the least overweight. As if on cue, the teacher could be heard recapturing her ordeal for colleagues.
Two schools, West Watooka Nursery and St Aidan’s Primary, highlighted the need for handymen.
“In this year, which has been declared the Year of the Youth, the situation that currently prevails at some of these schools is definitely not conducive to learning. More attention has to be paid to education facilities; we need better facilities, especially here in Region Ten, where we have schools in dire need of repairs, water problems and several other issues.
At the Harmony Secondary School, the Deputy Head teacher’s office is just a room. It is bare, except for a desk and chair, but the desk has no drawers. There is also need for fans at this school, because of poor ventilation.
Moreover, some schools have no water.

Little ones enjoy their snacks at the beginning of the new term.

Said Morian: “This is totally unacceptable. I’m therefore calling on the Ministry of Education, and the Government to support our children in their quest for education – to look into these issues which are very troubling, and which interfere with the proper delivery of education. We are urging them to do something urgently.”