New schools prepare to open their doors

In preparation for schools’ opening, scores of parents and teachers on Tuesday attended meetings at various primary and secondary schools across the country to discuss a number of issues including expectations, procedures, rules, regulations and orientation programmes. At the new schools, scores of parents turned out to collect book lists, as well as information on school uniforms. One new primary school and six new secondary schools will open their doors to the new intake of students (Forms I and IV) on Tuesday, the Education Ministry assured yesterday. The 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.

At the new La Romaine High School, teachers, parents and students met for the first time at St Benedict’s College, while both a male and female student displayed the school uniform, and parents who did not sign the book grant application forms did so. The school will be opened on September 2, with 175 students in Form I and an additional 60 students in Form IV. School Principal Wilfred Lyons told parents and teachers that La Romaine High would be a caring school embracing all. He stressed that the emphasis would be “on teaching children and not necessarily rigidly following a curriculum and school syllabus,” as well as teaching good morals and values. Teachers will be meeting today to tour the school complex and to engage in an exercise to develop a mission statement and vision for the school. Principal of the Preysal High School, Ashram Deoraj, met with teachers to finalise arrangements for the orientation programme for students entering Forms I and IV. They have also agreed on a uniform, and a mission statement and vision for the school. The Preysal High School will open on Tuesday, with 294 students in Form I, and an additional 124 students in Form IV.