Too many early dismissals at Bon Air Sec

CONCERNED parents of students attending the Bon Air Secondary School are asking Education Minister Anthony Garcia to rectify several problems so children can have normal classes on a daily basis.

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, a parent who did not want to be identified said parents are only told school is being dismissed early after the children have already been dropped off. She said school had to be dismissed early on many occasions last year because of sewer problems and malfunctioning air condition units, and the problems have continued.

The mother said, on Monday after dropping off her daughter she was called to collect her at noon because of a sewer issue.

“The situation is very upsetting and they are playing politics with the children’s education. This has been a problem for the past two years and children are losing out on their education. If it is not the sewer system one day, it’s the air condition units on another day. It is overbearing now. The ministry needs to get the school in order for the children.” She said, on Monday after half the children arrived the administration posted on the school’s Facebook page that parents should collect them.

“The teachers are trying but the ministry needs to come up with a solution because the only ones who are losing big are the children.”

She said students were willing to save up money for new air condition units in classrooms, but the government said teachers are not allowed to collect money from students because they already get money from the government.

Head of the school PTA Adolphus Jeremie said he was aware of some of the issues, which included the air condition units, and a bad scent throughout the school, but the smell, which was first noticed last year, was never identified as being caused by the backed-up sewer.

He said the PTA executive met last year with the Education Facility Company and Education Ministry staff , who said work was to be done during the Easter vacation, but this never happened.

“Last year when the bad odour started, the school had several early dismissals, which went on for a couple of months. Yesterday (Monday) the principal sent home teachers by lunchtime but I cannot say what the reason was for the early dismissal today (yesterday).”

Head of the TT Unified Teachers Association Lynsley Doodhai said he was aware the school had some problems in the past year, but had to confirm if this was an ongoing issue.

Garcia could not be contacted yesterday as all calls to his cell phone went unanswered.