Frustrated parents of Rousillac Hindu School locked teachers out of classes on Friday as they staged a silent protest over delays in reconstruction of a new school.
It has been 13 years since the school was burnt down because of faulty electrical wiring. Since then, children have been attending classes at the Rousillac Community Centre at Happy Hill. When the teaching staff arrived at the centre around 8 am, they met three padlocks on the front gates.
Spokesman Miriam Boyce said parents were frustrated over the poor conditions at the centre. She said students have been falling ill because of the heat and dust. She also said the sewer system was faulty.
“The centre was not built to accommodate 189 pupils and ten members of staff. The classrooms are small, cramped and uncomfortable,” Boyce said. She added that security was not up to par as anybody could walk into the centre.
“We have been lobbying for a new school and construction of a new school finally started in 2013. That project is now at a standstill and we are fed up of waiting,” Boyce said. She said the environment was not conducive to learning as classrooms were separated by a blackboard and the noise levels were too high.
“Children getting sick every day. They have to be taken to the health centre. We have a few fans and no AC. We have no trees for shade and the heat is just unbearable,” Boyce added.
Another parent Laura Boodoo-Samaroo said her six-year-old son was among those who fell ill. “We have stray dogs coming all over the school. My son got a rash on his forehead and when we took him to the doctor he said it was because of the heat and dust,” Boodoo-Samaroo said. She added that it was difficult to get her son transferred to another school. “South Oropouche RC is closed down and we have no place at Rousillac Presbyterian. Avocat Vedic is not taking anybody and Delhi Hindu school has no space,” Boodoo-Samaroo said.
Another parent Oma Orie said her seven-year-old son was also ill because of the conditions.
“He always keeps complaining about the dust. Two or three times for the week he gets headaches,” Orie said. She said parents will continue to keep their children away from classes until the government restarts work. Contacted on Friday, an official from the Education Ministry said the reconstruction programme has been put on hold as the Education Facilities Company Ltd is under review. He said clearance must be given by the Finance Ministry before the project can resume.
Education Minister Anthony Garcia could not be reached for comment.
FLASHBACK
The Rousillac Hindu school burnt down on March 9, 2003. After the fire, students were accommodated at a nearby Rousillac SDMS temple. However, in 2008 the parents staged protests saying the classrooms were being flooded during rainy weather. The school was then transferred to the Rousillac Community Centre. In 2013, under former education minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh, a contract was awarded and construction of the new school began. It was supposed to be completed within eight months.