High level of vandalism in Tobago schools

Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Orville London on Wednesday called on parents and guardians to strongly urge their children to exercise care in the use of school facilities. He issued the call at the weekly post-Executive Council Meeting’s press briefing.

London, who is also Secretary of Education, lamented that four fire hydrants at the newly constructed $32 million Mason Hall Government Secondary School have already been damaged by students even before the school has been officially opened. This occurred during the recent orientation day for students. London said this came to light when he visited the school last week. “Please parents and guardians, urge your students to take care of the facilities,” he pleaded, “The principal of the Mason Hall school, that very beautiful school, said that after one day, four fire hydrants were damaged. One day! Four fire hydrants were damaged by the students, by our students in Tobago. We have got to find a way; we will do it from the (Education) Division level — the teacher, the principals will do it — but I think parents and guardians and communities have a responsibility to indicate to our students that this is a legacy that we have to pass on,” he emphasised. London pointed out that no new schools will be constructed in Tobago for a very long time “because we have already reached our quota. And therefore what we have we are going to have to protect!” He said it was the most disheartening aspect of his schools’ visit when that revelation was made. “And that is not acceptable!” London declared.

Meantime, Percival Mottley, Project Officer in the Education Division with responsibility for school repair/maintenance confirmed “a high level of vandalism” in the island’s schools. “There is evidence where students kick in doors, break light bulbs, damage electrical fittings,” he reported. “I mean, these schools cost millions of dollars, and no amount of security could protect these plants; so we want to appeal to the parents to urge their children to protect these facilities because we can’t cope with the level of vandalism that is taking place,” stressed Mottley.