The Opposition APNU+AFC, yesterday, called on the Ministry of Education to consider renting buildings to address the issue of overcrowding of schools noting that the current housing of students in tents violates the rights of children to receive an education in a comfortable setting.
On Monday, following the reopening of schools for new Grade Seven students, reports and photos of heavy overcrowding in some schools in Regions Three and Four began to surface online. That sparked criticisms from both leaders and the public resulting in the Ministry being forced to explain the situation.
The Ministry said that two schools opted for the utilisation of tents that have adequate lighting, ventilation and air conditioning to house students. The decision was reportedly made by both the teachers and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) bodies at the schools. Yesterday, Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton said that housing students in tents constitute a violation of their rights. He accused the Ministry of Education of not being prepared for the influx of students.
“It should have been evident to the Ministry of Education that it is better to utilize the money they have at their disposal to rent buildings, appropriate buildings, to put children in. There are a lot of buildings around Georgetown that have been put up [and] they’re empty…children could have been provided better accommodation than tents. At this stage [with] the heat in Guyana I wouldn’t even recommend tents for prisoners, for any human being, much less schoolchildren. I think it’s a manifestation of the incompetence of the Minister of Education,” Norton charged.
Meanwhile, the shadow Minister of Education Natasha Singh-Lewis said that the resort to tents is as a result of the government’s lack of careful planning. She added that it also highlights the extent to which the physical infrastructure of the country’s schools has deteriorated.
She told the press conference that along with lack of accommodation, the education system is plagued by a number of other issues including inadequate furniture, overcrowding, non-functioning sanitary blocks for teachers and students, lack of printed pedagogical materials for teachers and insufficient funds for classroom aids.
“To compound an already unacceptable situation, students are being placed in tents that are grossly inadequate in lighting and ventilation. This is being done in extremely hot conditions, a clear violation of the non-academic Standards of the Ministry of Education,” Singh-Lewis said.
Singh-Lewis said that the explanation proffered by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand is one that seeks to cast blame. She noted that there is no reason why appropriate buildings could not have been rented and utilized adding that placing students in tents is “unconscionable and inhumane.”
While admitting that the increase in population coupled with the influx of school-aged children from neighbouring countries may be a reason for overcrowding, Singh-Lewis said that it should not be used as an excuse for lack of planning.
“We demand that the Academic and Non-Academic Standards be implemented in keeping with Goal #4 of the Sustainable Development Goals and that as a nation we utilize the resources available to ensure inclusiveness, and equitable and quality education for all. Our teachers and students deserve better,” she said.
The Opposition MP said that they are in possession of reports of students not being able to properly function in the tents.
In the best interest
During a brief interview with Stabroek News yesterday, Manickchand said that she is constitutionally bound to act in the best interest of the children. She explained that space at secondary schools has become a real issue and that the ministry is working towards addressing the lack of space.
She also said that the current arrangements came following intense lobbying by both the PTA bodies and teachers.
She noted that currently, just two schools in Georgetown are utilizing tents to house students – East Ruimveldt Secondary and Graham’s Hall Primary. She explained that the situation of overcrowding at Graham’s Hall has been a longstanding issue and accused the APNU+AFC of doing nothing to address overcrowding while in power.
Specifically speaking about Graham’s Hall Primary, the Minister explained that some students were housed at Cummings Lodge Secondary School – a building that is some distance away from the Primary School – and that the teachers began to advocate to return “on the grounds”. She said the housing of the primary-aged students at the Cummings Lodge Secondary started while the APNU+AFC was in power and no steps were taken to remedy the situation.
“They [teachers] asked us to go back to the school, they showed us where we could put this [tent] and we did that because they said that would be in the best interest of their children. Now it would have been far easier for me to just continue the arrangement that APNU started, nobody could quarrel because I didn’t start it. But it’s not in the best interest of our children.
“I am bound by the Constitution to do only what is in the best interests of children. So APNU has no clue what they’re talking about. We have rented buildings in some places, as I said but in some places, there are no buildings to rent,” she said.
The Minister said that the new students at East Ruimveldt Secondary School could have been placed at various schools within the city but parents opted for the tents.
“The parents said no, our kids are coming from a particular place and we would like them closer to home. It is better for us transportation-wise. Could you please put them right here in the tents? We also had a chance to do rotation which some other schools have been doing for a couple of years now and they said no they didn’t want that,” she explained.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Manickchand lashed out at the APNU+AFC for failing to complete works at Good Hope Secondary, Yarrowkabra Secondary and St Rose’s High. She also pointed to the fact that St George’s High and the North Ruimveldt and North West Secondary were also burnt down which added to the overcrowding.
“This year 2000 more children sat that exam than last year. And 2000 more children need seats in secondary schools than last year,” the post stated.
Manickchand said that government is in the process of rebuilding those schools that were destroyed by fire while extending existing schools such as East Ruimveldt and St Winifred’s and building at least two brand new secondary schools in Georgetown, two in Region 3, One in Region 7 and one at Karasabai.
Additionally, Queen’s College and the Bishops’ High are being extended currently and St Stanislaus and St Joseph are slated for expansion next year.
“To accommodate our additional learners currently we had a choice: open up more “primary tops,” establish annexes of Secondary Schools, engage in rotations/double sessions for learners. The Government rejected out of hand the establishment of any new primary top – which is a primary school accommodating secondary students.
“Where there was space, the PTA at each school, in organized consultation meetings, was given an option of rotation or tents with air conditioning units installed. Where you see tents that was the choice of said PTA. Where there was no space for the erection of tents, we had no choice but to do rotations. In some cases we have rented buildings,” she lamented.
The Minister assured that the issue is being addressed and soon there would be relief offered to the affected students.
