Schools re-open today as new term begins

For the 20,669 students who wrote this year’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam in March, today represents a new chapter in their lives as they “claim” a place in a secondary school.

As promised by Education Minister Hazel Manning in April, all SEA students secured a place in a secondary school, and while not all schools were ready for today’s resumption of classes, the majority of schools will re-open. Finally admitting that not all schools will be opening today, Minister Manning on Sunday announced that approximately 10 schools were not ready for the start of the new term. However, she did not list schools which were not ready and the possible opening dates of these schools. A release from the Ministry’s Communications Unit yesterday listed the La Puerta Government Primary, St Magaret’s Boys’ Anglican, Melville Memorial Anglican, St Barb’s Government,  Paramin Roman Catholic and Eastern Boys’ School on George St PoS as schools that would remain closed this week, due to on-going repairs. Teachers at these schools are requested to report to their schools today, except those from Paramin RC, who are asked to assemble at 3 Woodbine Gardens, St George West Friendly Society Office. In a television interview on Sunday, Manning attempted to highlight on-going processes at various schools which were implemented during the vacation such as increased security measures, improvements in the existing physical infrastructure of some schools, and the construction of nine new schools.

The nine new schools are located in  Chaguanas, La Romaine, Preysal, Bon Air, Rio Claro, and in Tobago at Mason Hall and Goodwood. New schools at Guayaguayare and Speyside will be opened later in the year. Claiming that the ministry had spent over $40 million in effecting repairs during the vacation period, Manning said these included the replacement of roofs and doors, the construction of perimeter fences, upgrading of sewer systems, the installation of security lights, and repainting of some buildings. Following a visit on Saturday to the Paramin RC School, both Manning and MP for the area, Colm Imbert, said they would soon be requesting funds from Cabinet for a new primary school in the area. However, alternative accommodation is being sought for students of  the school. The minister sought to educate persons as she said that out of the 476 existing primary schools throughout the country, approximately 300 of them were over 50 years old, and that in almost all of the schools the electrical wiring systems were outdated. Admitting that some schools do not adequately provide for children who are physically challenged, Manning said the initiative formed part of the Government’s thrust for taking TT into the 21st century, as they were also moving towards ensuring that all schools had computer laboratories, sick bays, music and physical education facilities, resource rooms and administrative offices.

Stating that over 133 secondary schools were constructed almost 30-40 years ago, the ministry’s release said these schools were in dire need of repairs and upgrading, including the refurbishment of science, food and nutrition labs, as well as new facilities for technology, music and physical education. Manning also spoke of  the improved curriculum which will be introduced as the new school term begins, and the collection of books under the Textbook Rental/Loan Programme, which is already underway. Explaining about the $1,000 book grant which is in the form of an ABM Card, she assured parents and guardians that they would receive the cards when school begins. On a separate matter, parents and guardians of secondary school students have already begun collecting textbooks promised  them under the Textbook Rental/Loan Programme.
Parents have been  asked to visit the following schools on the specified dates to collect their children’s books:-
* Arima Government Secondary
   September 3 (Forms 1 and 2 —
   9 am to 2.30 pm)
* Qualitative School of Education
   September 2 (9 am to 12 noon)
* Barrackpore Secondary
   September 3 (8 am to 12 noon)
* Naparima Girls’ College 
   September 3 (Form 1 —
   8.30 am to 2.30 pm)
   September 4 (Form 2 —
   8.30 am to 2.30 pm)
* Bishop Anstey, Port-of-Spain  
   September 2 (Forms 1 and 2 —
   7.45 am to 12 noon)
* Rafeek Memorial, TML Secondary
   September 3 (Form 1 — 9 am)
   September 4 (Form 2 — 9 am)
* Holy Cross College
   September 2 (Form 1 — 8 am)
   September 4 (Form 2 — 8 am)