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alexk
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Frustrated by the delay in rebuilding the Princes Town Presbyterian No. 1 School, parents blocked the road with burning debris and kept their children home yesterday.
Police and fire-fighters responded to the fiery protest which saw parents blocking the two main entrances to the Princes Town Presbyterian No. 2 School with burning debris resulting in the school being inaccessible to vehicles.
The action of the angry parents followed the failure of the Ministry of Education and Presbyterian Primary School Board to meet the parents’ deadline to give a definite answer on when the school will be built.
Three years ago, Presbyterian No. 1 School was condemned because of structural defects and the pupils were temporarily relocated on a shift system to Presbyterian No 2.
Parent Teachers Association president of Presbyterian No 1 Nola Ramjohn-Karim, who spoke on CNC 3’s Morning Brew yesterday said she was not aware of the protest, but the parents have her full support.
Ramjohn-Karim said, “The principal would have called me to say that the road was blocked. All I can say this morning from what has been told to me is that the parents are very angry, especially the fathers.
Fathers have been coming out and they are saying that this is really difficult for them now and they have to come out and take a stand because their children are suffering. Many of our fathers are self employed some of them have their own business and they cannot make a living, they cannot earn an income because they are on the road four and five times a day transporting their children up and down.”
She said parents have also decided not send to their children to school for exams.
Ramjohn-Karim said, “They cannot take it any more they want an answer from both the Board and the ministry on when construction will start of this Presbyterian No 1 School.”
Ramjohn-Karim said parents of Presbyterian No. 2 School are also protesting with them because they want back their school.
She said the ministry is boasting about holistic development and the all rounded child, but that is not being provided to the 900- plus pupils from both schools.
She said the Board and the ministry must bring a quick resolution to this matter.
Ramjohn-Karim said on one hand the Board was saying the school will be built at the original site but it is awaiting a decision from the ministry and on the other hand the ministry is stating that it is committed to building the school, but the church owns the school.
The parents intend to continue protest action until the problem is resolved.
Calls and Whatsapp messages to the cellphones of Education Ministers Anthony Garcia and Dr Lovell Francis went unanswered yesterday.