Dominican students to be placed in classes

Students from the hurricane-ravaged island of Dominica who are seeking admission into schools in TT will not be denied the opportunity to continue their education, says Education Minister Anthony Garcia.

Garcia gave this assurance on Tuesday after reports that a parent who relocated from Dominica and now lives in Central Trinidad is unable to get her three children admitted into local schools.

On receiving the report, a Ministry of Education release said, the ministry immediately instructed school supervisors and principals to provide data on the number of spaces available in their schools to facilitate the admission of the students.

Data was also collected on Dominican students who were citizens by descent and those who were non-nationals seeking admission into schools.

The data showed that nine were citizens by descent, and were immediately offered places. Twenty-four students were identified as non-nationals and the information was submitted to the Immigration Division.

The release saidGarcia was assured by Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon that all immigration restrictions have been waived to accommodate Dominican students.

“Principals are therefore directed to facilitate the students from Dominica who were affected by Hurricane Maria in September 2017,” the release said.

Interested parents are advised to visit the ministry’s district education offices to apply for their children to be placed in schools.

Garcia reiterated his commitment to continue working with the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs to ensure that all outstanding cases are addressed.

Following the destruction of homes and the economy of Dominica by Hurricane Maria in September, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley made a public appeal to citizens to open their doors and allow Dominicans to come and stay for a six-month period. Immigration restrictions were waived for those affected.