Remedial work to a section of the Vreed-en-Hoop Com-munity High School (CHS) has restarted after being stalled for some time and the teachers are calling for the work to be completed quickly so that classes can return to normal.Meanwhile, repairs to another school in Region Three, the L’Aventure Secondary School was due to be completed last week though the condition of the fence is a source of concern for parents and staff as it is still in a dilapidated state.
Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the region, Nandlall Ramkissoon confirmed on Thursday that work at the Vreed-en-Hoop CHS had restarted last weekend after a chat with the contractor. He said also that work was completed at the L’Aventure Secondary School and the students have returned to classes. He said too that the fence at the school would be looked at.
The situation at the Vreed-en-Hoop CHS was highlighted in this newspaper in November last year and after a series of meetings with frustrated parents who had nailed shut one of the dilapidated buildings and kept their children at home, Ramkissoon had promised that repairs would be done. The parents had complained of myriad problems including shoddy sanitary facilities, poor security, flooding, broken windows, a leaking roof and overcrowding. As a result of the promised repairs, a decision was taken to resume classes on a shift system which was to last for the duration of the term.
During a visit to the school last month, a senior staff member had told Stabroek News that work which had started was no longer ongoing reportedly because of a lack of funds. And Chairman of the Region, Julius Faerber, in an interview had said that if the work did not restart by a given deadline the contract would have been taken away from the contractor.
On a visit to the school on Thursday, a staff member said that work had restarted two Mondays ago. The staff member appealed for work to be completed quickly because she said that they are uncomfortable with the situation. The staff member said that with the shift system, students are going to school very late or not at all.
Meanwhile, the situation at the L’Aventure Secondary School located in Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara has returned to normal with all the students returning to school last Monday though the broken fence is still a source of concern. The situation at that school was brought to light early last month, when after years of working under poor conditions and numerous letters to the authorities regarding the situation, students and their parents as well as staff locked the gates to protest its deplorable state. They had distributed a flyer listing the problems faced by the school – inoperable toilets, bat infestation, exposed wiring, rotten floorboards, a leaking roof and inadequate furniture, among other matters.
After the gates were closed, Regional Chairman Faerber in an interview with this newspaper had said that the most pressing problems will be looked at first though other works would have to wait until funds are available.
Checking on the school on Thursday, a member of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) told Stabroek News that while temporary work was scheduled to be completed that day the parents and staff were still concerned about the broken fence. The member said that security should be provided. “We need proper security, loiterers can still destroy what was done,” the PTA member said.
The member also pointed out that teachers were willing to work with the temporary repairs as the Ministry of Education had promised that funds would be budgeted to effect full repairs to the school during the July/August vacation. A PTA meeting was held on Tuesday at the school and it was decided that the members would help to clean up the school. (Gaulbert Sutherland)
