By LARA PICKFORD GORDON Monday, September 6 2010

THE NEW school term starts today and the Ministry of Education yesterday reported that its School Repair programme during the July-August break was “extremely successful”.

It reported that three schools — Pleasantville Secondary, St Augustine Secondary and Cowen Hamilton Secondary — will not open today. Cowen Hamilton will resume classes tomorrow while the Pleasantville and St Augustine Secondary schools will reopen on Wednesday. Construction took place at these schools which included an agricultural lab, a visual and performing arts building and science block.

A release from the ministry said a total of 136 schools in seven districts had a range of repairs done. The work covered electrical, plumbing, drainage, flooring, and roofing. The ministry said, “in addition to painting, doors, windows and perimeter fences were replaced in schools where required and in some schools, fans, toilet tanks and water tank enclosures were installed.”

New schools and classrooms were constructed but the ministry provided no details.

The July-August school repair programme started late this year as additional funds had to be sourced. At a media briefing two weeks ago Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh said the programme has been operating with a shortfall because its budgetary allocation for the programme was $85 million when the cost was approximately $175 million.

President of the National Parent Teachers’ Association Zena Ramatali said her organisation did not want children losing too much time from classes. She said even if there was a delay in some schools reopening, children should not have to wait for more than a week.

The NPTA met with the Education Facilities Company Ltd about school repairs. The EFCL indicated that work was being prioritised since its budget was not sufficient to cover all the repairs which had to be done.

The new school term is eagerly anticipated by students who look forward to getting their new laptops from the Government. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the computers will be distributed at the end of this month.