Fed-up parents protest for new school

FED-UP parents of students displaced by fire which ravaged the Palo Seco Government Secondary School defied heavy showers yesterday and held a placard protest at the entrance of the spanking new Siparia Regional Complex. The irate parents told Newsday they learnt their children may soon be attending classes under a tent at the entrance to the new complex. While thankful for the temporary accommodation, especially for the Form Five students who are set to write CXC exams in a matter of weeks, the parents said the children of the community deserve nothing short of a new school.

Chanting “we want our school right now” and “think about the children,” the 200-strong contingent of parents, some of whom were accompanied by students in full uniform, also visited other sites, including Diptee’s Building and the Siparia office of the Works Ministry, which have been deemed potential sites for temporary classes. President of the Concerned Parents Association, Johnny Alexis, said parents were also calling for the personal intervention of Education Minister Hazel Manning, since he claimed the Ministry had maintained a deafening silence concerning the school’s rebuilding or relocation. On April 7, fire completely gutted a large section of the school’s main building, including the main classroom building. “We are saying the Palo Seco Government School has to be rebuilt at its original site,” Alexis said.

He observed that while Form Five students had returned to classes after the Easter holidays at the unburnt sections of the school, the Forms One to Four students were forced to remain at home. Alexis said, “It is almost three weeks now and there has not been a single word from the Ministry, our Parliamentary Representative or our Local Government councillor.” Parents had learnt that while a pre-fabricated structure was being built as a possible replacement for the fire-ravaged school, the Education Ministry had raised a number of concerns about the safety of the structure.

“But come Monday, our children will be attending school in front the administration offices and under tents if they have to, unless the Ministry of Education provides suitable accommodation for our children,” Alexis said, adding that a number of volunteer teachers had indicated their willingness to teach the students. However, Alexis remained optimistic that students would be relocated following a planned meeting with Education Ministry officials during the week. Meanwhile, school principal Fitzgerald Jeffrey said the planned “Male Day,” carded for May 22 at the Palo Seco Secondary School, had also been postponed to October 30, due to the fire. Jeffery said the “Male Day” attracted fathers and male teachers from both primary and secondary school teachers from the St Patrick county.