Parents of students attending the Mon Repos Primary School should leave the school compound when the bell rings for classes to commence, according to the Ministry of Education.
Following reports that parents last Tuesday were gathered outside of the school’s gate as they weren’t being allowed to enter the school compound, the Ministry of Education said in a statement yesterday that the school’s administration was attempting to dissuade parents from loitering within and around the school compound during instructional periods.
“As a result, parents were encouraged to leave after the morning and afternoon sessions started,” the statement said, while noting that the arrangement was discussed at a general Parent-Teacher Association meeting on Monday, January 28th, 2019.
As a result, parents were told on the following day by the school’s security that they could not take their children into the school compound and had to leave them at the gate.
Online news agency News Room had reported that parents were left outraged as they were standing out in the heat at lunch time. According to the News Room report, parents stated that they preferred to take their children all the way to their respective classrooms due to reports of bullying.
The ministry statement noted that the head teacher, senior teachers and an education officer discussed and agreed that the parents must be allowed to bring their children into the school as per normal but should be encouraged to leave when the bell rings and to return at dismissal time for their children instead of waiting at the school. Additionally, an emergency PTA meeting is to be held to discuss the issue.
The ministry said the situation will be monitored.
