The new Arthurville Primary School on the island of Wakenaam was commissioned yesterday by President Irfaan Ali and the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand.
Back in May 2022, the Education Minister visited the island to meet with parents of learners attending the school to address their concerns about the deteriorating building.
A release from the Ministry of Education yesterday noted that Manickchand told the parents then that a new and modern structure would be built at the same location. In February of this year, a contract for the sum of $84m was awarded to rebuild the school.
The new building has eight classrooms, a reading room, an IT laboratory, a kitchen, a staff room and a sick bay. Each classroom is also equipped with a smart screen.
Due to the worsening condition of the school, it was decided in March of last year to move the children and teachers out of the school and have them accommodated at the Sans Souci Primary School.
She told the parents last year that the decision to move the children and teachers was necessary since it was determined that the building was unsafe to use. She said that a decision was made very quickly to have the children and staff moved to Sans Souci since it was the closest school with sufficient room.
“This school is going to continue but you have to give us time to build it. I can’t know what I know and keep children and teachers here because I won’t be able to live with myself if anything is to ever happen to them,” Manickchand told the parents.
