Mafeking parents continue protest

The frustrated parents are claiming that for many years students have been in danger from a faulty electrical system. From 7 am, the parents and children marched in front of the 50-year-old building to voice their concerns. Speaking to Newsday, PTA public relations officer Brian Francis said the school has been neglected over the years and “enough is enough”.

“This has nothing to do with politics as some people may say. The fight today is for an education for children in an environment conducive to learning. These children cannot work in this environment, it is not safe,” he said.

Francis said the electrical problem has been ongoing over the years but within the last two weeks it has worsened, forcing the early dismissal of classes. He said pupils and members of staff are at risk on the compound.

“What if a fire starts because of this faulty electrical problem? Are they waiting for a fire to occur and act?” he asked. Francis added that the building needs urgent rewiring.

“They must replace all the old wires and upgrade this electrical system or the problem will persist.

This building is a hazard and parents are not going to send their children to school until this problem is rectified.” He said other problems at the school included overcrowding and broken furniture. “This building has been in existence for the past 50 years and there has not been any significant extension done to it while the school’s population is a growing one, so the students are cramped in classes,” he said.

Many times, Francis said, students are left without seating accommodation.

“We have to go to the music room or library to get chairs and tables to bring to the classes just to accommodate the students. The uniforms of these children are also damaged because the furniture is old and dilapidated.” Member of Parliament for Mayaro, Rushton Paray, in a media release, said on Tuesday, while at the Standing Finance Committee on Education, he had informed Education Minister Anthony Garcia of the parents’ concerns. Paray said he was “disheartened by the lack of urgency in addressing the matter since 336 students are currently being denied their fundamental human right of receiving a quality education.” He appealed to the relevant authorities to “hasten their response to this matter since the well-being of the students is of utmost importance.” When Newsday contacted the Education Ministry, an official said the ministry was aware of the problems and is currently addressing the issues.