Photos by Anjuli Persaud
Minister of Education Priya Manickchand along with regional and education officials yesterday visited several schools in Region Three and examined what could be done to rehabilitate them and their surroundings. Manickchand also blasted the authorities for not honouring the responsibilities that come with their positions.
“Much is given to you, much is expected of you,” Minister Manickchand told the officials, while reminding them of their positions and how to honour them.
The first stop was at the Nismes Primary School where a huge fish pond at the front of the school continues to concern parents and teachers as regards pupils’ safety.
It was also reported that the school had not been getting water for over three days because an excavator broke the pipes in the process of trying to fill the pond.
It was reported that the Regional Education Department knew about the issue but it had not been addressed.
Manickchand asked Regional Education Officer (REdO) Marlyne Jones O’Donoghue why no effort was made to have the pipes fixed for over three days. O’Donoghue responded that a plumber was assigned to the task but he had to go to the Uitvlugt Primary School instead to fix some pipes that were blocked and causing flooding at that school.
But the minister found that unacceptable. She gave the REdO a deadline of until 6 pm yesterday to have the school equipped with running water. “Even if you took the plumber away yesterday to fix the pipes at Uitvlugt you still had two days prior to that and a school not having water for over three days is unacceptable to me,” she said.
Inclement weather
Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber said they were unable to fill the pond because of the inclement weather. He said too that the region had only one tractor and trailer so it was hard for it to be in many places at one time.
The pond is about 4-5 feet deep and he estimated that if the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) fills it, it will take over one month. He suggested that they hire a contractor to have the job completed in a timelier manner and suggested Puran Bros Contracting Services.
Manickchand agreed to the suggestion urging them to find a contractor as soon as possible since she wanted the pond filled within two weeks since it posed a risk to the students.
Headmistress Juliet Felix pointed out to the minister that the school’s playfield was also not safe for the students to use since it is filled with “cow holes’
Manickchand ordered that the Regional Engineer estimate what can be done to have the playfield levelled and how much it would cost and to submit it to her as fast as possible.
It was also pointed out that the cattle farmers had made holes in the fence to have their cows graze in the school’s compound during the vacation period and on weekends, since the school has no day guard.
Felix said some of the farmers have children attending the school and she had already spoken to them about the cattle damaging the property.
Manickchand suggested that a meeting be held with the farmers and parents, which she and other officials will attend and speak to them about the sanctions that will be imposed if their cattle are found on the school’s premises.
Bush and snakes
On her visit to the Uitvlugt Primary School where parents refused to send their children to school because of the yard being flooded on the first day of the term, the compound surrounded with bush and snakes hanging on the fences, Manickchand blasted regional officials for not inspecting the schools prior to the opening.
Headmistress Ms Cameron said that whenever the rain fell the school’s compound flooded. In addition, the pipes were blocked and that also contributed to the constant flooding. She said they would normally take sticks to clear the pipes as a means of getting rid of the water.
Meanwhile, the region’s excavator was dispatched yesterday to start the clearing of the bushes around the compound and was expected to be finished by yesterday afternoon.
Noting the vines on the fence, the minister questioned why workers were not assigned to have it cleared as yet. Faerber said they would be there tomorrow to clear it.
Noting that the lack of a visit to the school before opening had caused some parents distress, as they had kept their children home for one week without any teaching, Manickchand said she wanted to advise all parents that school will be in session on Monday and there will be measures put in place to have students make up for the time lost.
When asked by Stabroek News about the Leonora Technical and Vocational Institute, the minister said they are looking to open the institution on January 16 as it has already been equipped with electricity and this will be followed with a telephone line shortly.
She added that they are examining ways to attract more girls to the institution and making arrangements with recruitment agencies to have jobs lined up for the graduates when they leave the institution.
At the Leonora Secondary School the minister met the Mathematics and English teachers. In a brief statement she said work on the school will be completed by this weekend since the contractor was yet to receive some eight special sinks for the laboratories in an overseas shipment. She added that her ministry had made it clear to contractors that if works are not completed within the contractual timeframe, penalties would be imposed as stated in the contracts.
