Hazel calls for dialogue

In her back-to-school message, Manning promised that during the year the process of transforming the system will be deepened. She said focus will be placed on "total quality education management, which includes school upgrades, refurbishment and construction through the new Educational Facilities Management Company, restructuring and decentralisation, strategic planning, teacher and school empowerment through the Local School Boards, as well as business and parent involvement."

Manning said with school administrators being exposed to new skills, she hoped they will be able to "manage their responsibilities more effectively, creating and maintaining quality schools." She also said during the year a Quality Unit will be established to monitor, assure and enhance quality in the education system.

Last week, Manning promised that the problems of teacher absenteeism will be dealt with this year. She said the situation will not be tolerated and salaries will be deducted from teachers found guilty of the practice, while those making contributions will be rewarded.

The minister also said the ministry is scouting for lands to build a new Biche High School and boasted of the expanded curriculum, which now includes Visual and Performing Arts.

The ministry reported that there were no major hitches yesterday despite the fact that 24 schools remained closed. Ministry officials were unable to say how many schools were converted to seven-year institutions, but the Arima Comprehensive, which open-ed its doors to Form Ones yesterday under a new acting principal, reported that the orientation was very successful.

Students began arriving at the school from as early as 7 am with their parents. Newsday was denied entry to the school, as MTS guards said they had instructions not to allow members of the media on the compound. However, the students seemed excited to start secondary school.

Krishnarine Bassaw, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) representative at the school, described the session as "very good." He said teachers were eager and motivated to start the "rebuilding process." He commended them for reporting for duty two weeks prior to yesterday, to put things in place for the new students. He said the environment at the school was "peaceful," and called on the ministry to lift the suspension from the suspended teachers in order to allow them to make their contribution to the school. Bassaw said the Form Ones were introduced to the staff and a talent show was held for them. The same will be done today for the Form Fours. All students are to report for school on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, parents of students of the Belmont Boys’ RC School expressed disappointment at the ministry’s silence about the start of construction of a new school. The school was condemned earlier this year and the boys will continue to be accommodated this term at schools in the Belmont area. The Point Fortin Senior Secondary School will reopen today, with the San Juan Girls’ Govern-ment, Maloney Government and Las Cuevas Government Primary Schools scheduled to open tomorrow.

The St Andrew’s College in Sangre Grande will open on September 12. It has been relocated from Eastern Main Road, Sangre Grande, to Brierley Street.