Three weeks after parents of students attending the Paramin RC School staged a silent protest outside the new building, the Catholic Education Board has assured that the school will be opened tomorrow.
During a telephone interview yesterday, chief executive officer of the Board, Sharon Mungroo confirmed that a walk-through of the new building at Fatima Junction, Paramin, was done and that a “few minor defects were identified.”
Asked to say what these defects were, Mungroo explained that a request had been made for the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL) to change the door of the second emergency exit—so that instead a padlocked door, there would be a single bar and additional reinforcement from the outside to prevent people from accessing the school.
Mungroo said while there were some other minor changes to be done, the Board had agreed to accept the school on the condition that the work would be completed before the new school term begins tomorrow.
Confident that the work would have been done, Mungroo said the principal and staff had begun readying the new premises for occupation by students. The move comes three weeks after parents staged a silent protest outside the school, concerned about the lack of a second access route into and out of the school.
Pressed to say if all other schools under their purview were ready to be opened, Mungroo revealed that following the fire at Hearty Foods Supermarket, Arima, on August 18, efforts were made to accommodate the Standards Four and Five classes from the Arima Boys’ RC School, at the Arima Girls’ RC School.
She said this was as a result of the structural integrity of the school building which borders the supermarket, being compromised. Mungroo said this arrangement would be temporary, as efforts would be made to construct a school building for the affected students.
Meanwhile, a temporary structure is to be erected for students of the Moruga RC School, after their old school building began crumbling under the hands of workmen.
Mungroo said following attempts by workmen to repair the roof during the school vacation, the building began falling apart and now has to be demolished. She said this would be done and alternative arrangements would be made for the students. At the Mucurapo Girls’ RC Primary School, Western Main Road, St James, teachers are also waiting to see if the shortage of administrators would be addressed during the new term.
One upset parent complained that five teachers have been keeping the school afloat for the past three years, and that they are overworked and stressed out. Parents are also calling on the Board to address the school’s faulty electrical system, which they claim has disrupted end-of-term exams on two separate occasions.