Since the reopening of schools this week, the pupils of the Santa Rosa Primary School in Moruca, Region One, are forced attend classes using a shift system as various sections of the school are in a debilitated state.
One of the Regional Councillors in Moruca, Maurice Torres, yesterday explained to Stabroek News that there is an old building that the children occupy, for which an $18 million contract was scheduled to be handed over to a contractor to have the building renovated. However the contractor has subsequently turned down the contract claiming that the money was insufficient for such renovations.
“There is an old building and according to the Headmistress, it was due for repairs and that was supposed to be done since July/August and what I was made to understand is that an $18 million contract is available, however the contractor denied it because he said that the money cannot do for the renovation, now school reopen and the children have to go back in the same old building.”
Torres said that since the refusal of the contractor, no effort has been made by the local authorities to tender for another contractor. As such, with the reopening of schools, the pupils were forced to adapt to a shift system where they are at a disadvantage since they cannot fully conduct a full day of academic work.
“It seems to be a lot of lapse on the side of the local authorities in terms of giving some attention to get this simple matter sort out… so what is happening now is that there is a double session, from Monday to Friday there is double session so the children would not be able to access the full day session.”
The councillor went on to note that efforts to have a tent erected on the lawns of the compound are also being challenged since the school was constructed on the premises of a church, and permission must first be granted before any construction or activity on the premises is carried out.
“However the school was built on a church land so before they could do any additional infrastructure or any work they need to get the permission of the priest and the priest was saying that they haven’t received any letter so far from the region seeking permission for the school to do the construction.”
