New building for Palo Seco school

THE Ministry of Education is working with Petrotrin and Palo Seco’s Agricultural Enterprises Ltd (PSAEL) to source a prefabricated building to accommodate all students of the fire-ravaged Palo Seco Government Secondary school within three weeks. In a media statement, the Ministry revealed that a multi-purpose steel-span utility building is expected to be delivered within three weeks, and will be erected on a concrete base at the school’s original site.

“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 — certainly by the first week of June 2004,” the Ministry stated. The Ministry noted that students and teachers would also be able to use existing laboratories, workshops and other facilities after the completion of the prefabricated building.

However, the Ministry stated that a team of teachers and Ministry officials would continue to explore possible alternative sites “so that teaching and learning can resume at the earliest possible opportunity. “The Ministry anticipates that teachers, parents, and students will engage in dialogue within the next few weeks with a view towards making up loss time,” the Ministry stated.  According to the Ministry, a number of possible options were discussed at a meeting last week between some 250 parents, teachers and Ministry officials.