Pre-fab structure to replace burnt out school

THE MINISTRY of Education is working with Petrotrin and PSAEL (Palo Seco Agricultural Enterprises Ltd) to source a prefabricated building — a multi-purpose steel-span utility building — to accommodate students of the Palo Seco Government Secondary School. According to release from the Ministry, the prefabricated building is expected to be delivered within three weeks.  It will be erected on a concrete base on the site of the school that was partially destroyed by fire three weeks ago. The prefabricated structure, which meets all the technical requirements for a properly functioning school — ventilation, fire safety, structural integrity and lighting — is expected to be ready for occupation in four weeks.

In the interim, a team from the Ministry will continue working with the school’s principal and teachers to identify temporary accommodation in the area so that teaching and learning can resume at the earliest possible opportunity. With the prefabricated building on site students and teachers will continue to use the existing laboratories, workshops, toilet and other facilities that were not affected by the fire. Technical officers from the Ministry and the principal, school supervisors and teachers examined buildings in Siparia, Fyzabad, Los Bajos and Palo Seco as temporary accommodation for the displaced students. Officials from the Ministry met with about 250 parents, teachers and students at the Palo Seco Church of the Open Bible on Wednesday to discuss the matter. Detailed information was provided to parents on:

• Accommodation for displaced students Forms 1 — 4 as well as those from Form 5 who are about to write CXC/CAPE examinations


• The availability of furniture and equipment — including computers — to restock the school in time for the resumption of classes by July 1.


• The proposed site for a new secondary school.

Principal Fitzgerald Jeffrey and the teachers, who have been working “tirelessly behind the scenes to address specific issues toward a resumption of classes,” were commended for their efforts.