Pupils of the Penal Quinam Government Primary School met locked gates when they turned up for the re-opening of the new school term yesterday.
Yesterday marked the second anniversary of parents being asked to have their children housed at the Mendez Community Centre opposite the school, while it was being rebuilt. The original period for the temporary relocation was six months.
With their bags and lunch kits packed, pupils showed up at the school, only to meet a locked gate to the premises.
They were told to return to the community centre which parents said was hazardous to their children.
Leading a protest in front the school yesterday, Parents/Teachers Association president, Maranda De Verteuil-Mendoza, said Standards One, Two and Second Year pupils were housed in the community centre where there is a malfunctioning air conditioning unit.
The other students are accommodated in two retrofitted shipping containers on the same compound.
The school population is 89, according to the De Verteuil-Mendoza.
She said pupils could not use the toilets because there were no doors, the plumbing was defective, the sewer system leaked and their school was infested with rats, frogs and snakes.
This was confirmed by a neighbour who said snakes have been found in the drain at the centre while the sewer leaked onto her property.
Last May, the centre was inspected by the St Patrick County Health Adminstration who listed many hazards and recommendations but she said nothing was done.
In an interview, De Verteuil-Mendoza said: “This is our two-year anniversary since we were asked to be housed over at the Mendez Community Centre.
“Some of our children were unduly placed in containers. We were asked to let them be housed there for six months, today is two years...
“Nobody in the ministerial grounds are going to put their children in situations like that. As soon as the rain comes, we have a constant issue with the overflowing of the septic tank.
“While other schools have one issue, we have been telling the Government and the people in charge that we have a lot of issues.”
She said they were told by EFCL that the school was complete and would be ready by yesterday but with the locked gate, she said, parents have decided to keep their children away from the centre until the school was ready.
Another parent, Pinky Charles, said children often had to stay home because of flooding at the school and with her son home, she could not go to work.
“This is stressful for me because it is me alone. When he has to be with me, I have to stay home from work. We would like to get our new school. It is taking too long” Charles said.
Education Ministry: Problem
schools repaired and opened
Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday commended the Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) for the successful reopening of all schools after the Christmas break.
In a news release from the Education Ministry yesterday, Garcia confirmed that all primary and secondary schools were opened in a state of readiness.
This included schools that were highlighted in the media for structural problems, such as the Vistabella Presbyterian Primary School, which had a reported turnout of teachers and 400 out of 475 students enrolled.
The Santa Rosa Government Primary School resumed as well, following early dismissals last term due to a malfunctioning water pump, toilets and plumbing system.
He said due to roadblocks in La Brea, attendance in 11 schools in La Brea and Point Fortin was adversely affected.
Garcia said: “I would like to thank the Education Facilities Company Limited, its contractors and officials from the Ministry of Education who have worked assiduously to ensure that all schools were opened today.”
Last week, the minister identified several secondary schools which were being used as Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate centres and would resume normal operations tomorrow.