Education Minister Anthony Garcia yesterday reiterated that schools were in a state of readiness although several teachers walked off the job amid claims made by the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) that repair work was not completed at several schools.
Garcia made the comment during a press conference dealing with the opening of the new school year at the ministry's St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain head office.
"Our interpretation of readiness is based on information received from professionals in the field, where students and teachers can operate in an environment. I am pleased to state categorically, every school was in a state of readiness to receive our children. I consider this a major achievement contrary to what is being said today," he said, noting statements were being about the situation by politicians bent on scoring political points.
He said information given out last week by a ministry official to TTUTA would be dealt with internally.
"A senior officer who met with TTUTA last week inadvertently gave information that was inaccurate," he said.
Asked how the officer came to give TTUTA inaccurate information, Garcia said: "This is a matter that would be dealt with internally. We are not in competition with TTUTA, which is a valuable stakeholder in the education system, because we can't do it alone. We respect the role they have been playing in the education system."
Garcia admitted, however, that several schools in the system were over 100 years old and needed ongoing repairs.
On the teachers who walked off the job yesterday, Garcia said they would have done so in accordance with the OSHA Act.
On the protest yesterday by the Association of School Maxi Transport Concessionaires of T&T, Garcia said members would be paid a total of $12 million by the end of the week.
"I want to make the point that this ministry recognises the role they have been playing and PTSC had paid one million in part payment. Today we made available $6 million, which is in excess $7 million," he said.
However, Garcia said there should be an investigation into ghost gangs or ghost maxi-taxi drivers who were being paid although they were providing no service. He said this problem was brought to his attention in a recent conversation by a senior member of the association.
"I am not casting aspersions on anybody. Ghost gangs and workers seem to be a thing," he said, adding he was warned prior to the protest yesterday and attempted to rectify the problem on Sunday night.
He said 24 schools were affected by the drivers' protest yesterday but several of the drivers made double trips.
"We must not use our children as pawns and I make strong objection to making us use our children as pawns," he said.
Stacey Baron, president of the National Schools Dietary Services Limited, who was also present, said some $20 million owed to caterers for the month of June would be released by the end of this week.