$65M to repair 159 schools

The ministry’s communications specialist, Mervyn Critchlow, yesterday told Newsday that repairs and refurbishment will be undertaken at "several primary schools and a few secondary schools." However, he was unable to provide the names of the schools which are to be refurbished or repaired. He explained that the work is to include an upgrade of sewer and electrical systems, replacement of sanitary fixtures, repainting, structural and plumbing works, and the provision of furniture and equipment.

Critchlow said the school population at secondary schools had increased due to the assignment of students on the basis of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exams, and there was therefore the need to provide additional furniture and equipment at some schools.

He said 159 schools are targetted for refurbishment or repairs at an estimated cost of $65 million during the July/August vacation this year. Last year, the ministry spent $45 million to refurbish and repair 147 schools. During the 2003 July/August vacation, 133 schools were repaired at a cost of $37 million.

Critchlow said the works will be supervised by the ministry’s Educational Facilities Management Division (EFMD), and carried out by the National Maintenance Training and Security Company Ltd (MTS), the National Insurance Property Development Company (Nipdec) and the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin).

Like last year, the works will continue into the new school term in September. Critchlow assured that the works will be carried out on afternoons and weekends and all safety precautions will be in place.

Critchlow also disclosed that tenders were recently awarded for the design consultancy for 42 secondary schools in preparation for de-shifting to seven-year schools. As a result, he said no repairs will be undertaken at the schools which fall into that category.