Parents: Open Swaha College in Grande

The school located on Coal Mine Road in Sangre Grande is not being maintained, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) member, Sheryl Maicoo, told Newsday yesterday. “The gate is padlocked and there is a security guard on the compound since people began stealing from the school. But the grass is overgrown and it does not seem like anyone is taking care of the place,” she said.

The school, which has been in existence for about nine years, she said, is operated in the Sangre Grande Swaha Temple, next to the new school building.

Maicoo said that parents have questioned school principal, Balram Persad, about the status of the school, but he directed the parents to the Education Ministry. “The Principal told us that the Swaha Board has done its part and everything that happens now depends on the ministry. To our knowledge, the school has been completed, but the ministry has not handed it over,” she said.

She explained that on several occasions parents have tried to speak with the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, but were unsuccessful.