Dear Editor,
Permit me space to comment on a particular issue which I have raised at different times with key officials at the Central Ministry of Education, Regional Education Officer, Regional Chairman of Region #3, Head Mistress and Former Deputy Head master, and other staff concerning the intervention needed to bring relief to the insanitary and unsafe conditions that have existed over the past 1 1/2 years at the West Demerara Secondary School.
The Government of Guyana has expended over the years per capita huge sums of money to deliver quality education to the young people of this country and on several occasions the President of the Republic has reiterated that improvement in education is singular to the growth of this country. Some people in the Education sector seemingly do not understand the ideological thrust of the PPP/Civic administration which has become evident by their negative attitude, lack of leadership and commitment and general neglect of their constituents – the school children.
During the latter part of 2008, my daughter of 14 years expressed to me the trauma she and all the female students experience on a daily basis of having no water at the Ablution Block, no water at the sink to wash their hands five days a week during the school terms. I visited the school sometime in December 2008 and spoke with the Head Master (ag) concerning the issue. He admitted that it was a fact that there was no water even though the GWI has its main facility next door and there were over 15 – 45O gallons Black tanks available but empty.
In the presence of the staff of the school I immediately contacted Mr. Roberts at GWI for his assistance in sourcing water from their facility. The cost associated with the commissioning of new water connections would have been in the vicinity of $15,000. The said Acting Head Teacher promised to have the exercise completed earliest so that access to water would have been guaranteed. To my dismay, there was no action after 2 weeks and no feedback from the Staff. I contacted the Regional Education Officer and in fact wrote her copied to the Regional Chairman to intervene since I believe that it was of serious concern to nearly 500 students. Weeks passed yet no action except when I spoke to the Regional Chairman he mentioned that a plumber was sent to assess the situation. The stench emanating from the toilet continued unabated.
I subsequently telephoned the Chief Education Officer (ag) outlining the situation at the school. She explained to me that a Board would be approved by the Minister of Education soon and all such matters would be addressed. The stench keep emanating from the toilets and the school children continued to suffer.
Mr. Editor this is October 2009 and now worms have taken over the toilets according to reports and male students urinate on the fence and fertilize the bushes. The female students seek refuge at nearby homes, the teachers wash room or “keep it in” until they reach home.
That institution was rated as one comparable to QC and Bishops’ and was a dream for many students to attend. But this is no longer the case. The lethargy and neglect of the school administration and the Ministry of Education must not be condoned. This is a poor example of who we appoint to mould, train and develop the minds of the future leaders, engineers, doctors, lawyers, farmers and other professionals on the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara. God help us. In the meantime there is more stench emanating from the toilets at the West Demerara Secondary school up to today 26th October, 2009.
Yours faithfully,
Krishna Mandata
