Good to involve the community

THE EDITOR: I see the Ministry of Education is going back to the borough and regional corporations for help to carry out minor repairs at schools in their respective communities for the July-August holiday period.

This is not totally new because it happened when I was a student. The tradition still continues and corporations have been helping some principals with minor repairs to minimise the loss of school days.

This community approach is good and has many benefits. Firstly, it will save the ministry money and provide jobs for people with the skills to do plumbing, sewer repairs, painting and similar minor jobs.

I have heard principals complain that minor issues like clearing a clogged sewer line, repairing pipes and plumbing works have caused schools to be closed for many days and sometimes weeks, because the Education Facilities Company Ltd has to follow certain steps to tender for a contractor.

This initiative by Education Minister Anthony Garcia and Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein is excellent because it gives the corporations and by extension the communities a greater stake in education. They are helping to improve the infrastructure and making safer and better schools for our students.

Finally, I congratulate all the mayors, chairmen and other staff of the corporations who are on board supporting this initiative.

JAIRAM SINGH
, Tunapuna