Students thrown out PoS school

The parents who claimed that the ministry purchased places at the private institution on Pembroke Street, Port-of-Spain, to accommodate their children, staged a protest yesterday outside the offices of Education Minister Hazel Manning on Hayes Street, St Clair.

Spokesperson for the group, Salle Ashby, told Newsday their children have been at home since the start of the school term on September 5. She produced a letter dated August 29, 2000, which she said was given to her daughter, informing her of her scholarship at Daniell’s. The letter, signed by the then acting Director of School Supervision, Alvin Browne, urged the student to make full use of the opportunity for the next five to six years. It added, "the Government has placed you at this school and will pay your fees and tuition as long as you remain a student in good standing." In return, the students were asked to be attentive, respectful, obey the school rules and study hard. Ashby’s daughter attended the Sacred Heart Primary School.

Ashby said the ministry owes the institution more than a million dollars in fees, and as a result, the school decided not to allow the children back at the school until the monies are paid. The parents said the ministry is aware of the matter, but has done nothing to resolve it. The students are entering Form Four.

The parents argued, "It is ironic that Government is providing free tertiary education, but can’t provide funds for children to complete their secondary education." It was the ministry’s inaction which prompted the parents to stage the silent protest outside the ministry yesterday. Ashby said the minister’s secretary spoke to them, assuring that the school supervisors will be informed. However, Ashby said the department is already aware of the problem, as is Permanent Secretary Angela Jack.

Ashby said she and the other parents were prepared to stay outside the ministry for the entire day yesterday, and will return "even if it is one of us, until we meet the minister."

When contacted by Newsday, Daniell’s principal Adolphus Daniell was not prepared to explain the institution’s position in the matter, saying only that the ministry and the school had a "very cordial relationship." He promised to host a press conference later this week.

The ministry’s communications specialist Mervyn Critchlow promised to issue a statement "at some point in time."