– ministry formulating rules
The Ministry of Education said there are no rules in place at present regarding a head teacher or a Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA) asking parents to provide furniture for their children.
This was the findings of an investigation into last September’s Richard Ishmael furniture issue, which was prompted by complaints from several upset parents.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said during a telephone interview that when it comes to asking for furniture, because there are no rules the PTA or by the headmistress through the PTA could ask parents to provide furniture.
He said the ministry was now in the process of formulating a list of rules that would relate to the furniture issue as well as to how PTAs should be operated. This, he pointed out, should be completed in another week or two.
One of the parents recently told Stabroek News that earlier this term, her son’s teachers told him that when school closed in July he would have to take his furniture home and return with it when school re-opened.
The upset parent, who did not want to be named, said she did not agree with this since it would be costly, not only for her but also for other parents to transport school furniture.
“That is not fair. I now have to find $500 to take it home and then more to bring it back. Why can’t it remain at school?” the woman questioned.
Asked by this newspaper if the request was being made to avoid theft, the parent responded that it was not a good enough reason because the furniture was marked and it was unlikely it would be stolen when there were also new pieces there from the ministry.
The parent opined that the pieces of furniture that were bought by parents should remain at the institution and when school reopened, they should be taken to the classroom that the child would then be occupying.
She said her child was using his furniture and had not encountered any problems so far.
When the school opened its doors for the new school term last September, newly-enrolled students turned up to find their classrooms in disarray and without furniture.
Parents complained not only about being asked by the headmistress to provide furniture at a public school, but also about instructions as to what type and quality to purchase.
Reports were that those instructions were given to parents when they attended the orientation session last July.
A notice to this an effect was posted near the school gate for everyone to see when they entered the compound during the first week of the school term.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry Pulandar Kandhi had said he was concerned about the parents’ complaints and deemed the request “totally out of order.” He had assured this newspaper that there would be an investigation into the matter. Kandhi had said too that asking parents to take furniture for students was against the ministry’s protocol.
Furniture was subsequently provided to the school by the education ministry but a number of pieces bought by parents were already there.
Following the incident, parents had raised the issue of reimbursement for the money spent, but the ministry had said that a decision would be taken once the investigation was completed.
This newspaper was told that parents were told that the pieces will remain in school to be used by the children during their stay at the institution, and could be removed at the end of that period. (Zoisa Fraser)
