Minister of Education Anthony Garcia yesterday denied claims made by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TUTTA) that repair work had not completed at the all nation’s schools, adding all schools will be opened this morning.
Garcia was speaking with members of the media during his visit to the Arima Central Secondary School at Robert Street, Arima.
Over weekend, TUTTA president Lynsley Doodhai had claimed repairs to only 80 of the 142 schools earmarked for repairs had been completed and some were not even started. Doodhai flagged some 11 schools as having issues that may impact negatively on smooth reopening operations today.
He warned that TTUTA members would not occupy schools where their safety was at risk today.
Yesterday, however, Garcia denied the claim.
“That is not accurate. TUTTA used information given to them in the wrong way. Officials assured me that everything was in place,” he said.
He said he received a report that every school would be in a state of readiness when school opens today.
“As far as the Ministry of Education is concerned, we are doing everything possible to ensure the doors of every school is opened to receive children.
“We have a responsibility to provide them with education and we have been working assiduously to ensure they can benefit from a level of education that we continue to offer,” Garcia said.
Referring to the security at the nation’s schools, he said: “I don’t want our schools to be looked at as jails. It must be institutions where people can operate freely and what I mean is they can enjoy everything. There are security measures.”
After the tour of the school, Garcia said work would commence at the institution this week.
“Very soon work will start and this was discussed at the level of Cabinet and I am to make sure everything is put in place so work can resume at the earliest possible time.
“I can’t say when it will be completed but work will start as soon as possible in a matter of days,” he said.
He said the contractor had stopped work on the project because he was not paid.
“There are a number of contractors who we are owing and we are doing everything possible to make sure the contractors are paid,” he said.
However, Garcia did not want to say how much it would cost to complete the project.
One of the parents who visited the school, who only identified herself as Lynette, said she graduated from the Arima Central Secondary in 1967.
“Imagine we were standing in the yard in that time and in 2017 they (students) are still standing in the yard,” she said.
Arima Mayor Lisa Morris-Julian said the corporation was assisting the school with labour and whatever assistance they needed.
She said the school was a “pet project” and the corporation will also assist with the drainage issues.
“We don’t have to wait on Government funds. We can use our labour and what we have in stock and assist in any way possible,” she said.
11 schools flagged by TTUTA
Cedros Anglican Primary
Biche RC Primary
San Fernando Boys’ Government Primary
Claxton Bay Junior Anglican
La Lune RC Primary
Rampanalgas RC Primary
Longdenville Presbyterian Primary
Biche Secondary
San Souci RC Primary
ASJA Boys’ College, Charlieville
Mayaro Secondary