No school for 900 primary school students in P/Town

Owing to electrical problems at both the Princes Town No 1 and No 2 Presbyterian Schools, approximately 900 students were told to stay home yesterday.

The Princes Town Presbyterian School No 1 in Craignish Village is currently housing students from the two schools. This is because Princes Town Presbyterian School No 1 which was at Edward Street, was deemed unfit and demolished in 2015. Pending its rebuilding , pupils were sent toPres No 1 on a shift system.

Princes Town School No 1 was without power for the past week after a fire and the theft of cables. Princes Town police say investigations are continuing.

President of Presbyterian No 2 PTA Nola Ramjohn-Karim said the shift system was implemented to accommodate all students in the Craignish school.

“Students are given four hours lessons per day, and now the term has started with a day short.”

She said the Ministry of Education had told the PTA the school would be ready for the start of the term, but work was not completed in time.

“I am hoping that the cables are replaced and school can resume tomorrow,” she said.

She said students from the two schools continue to endure hardship in trying to get an education. The PTA, she said has written to the Children’s Authority and is awaiting a reply.

Ramjohn-Karim said the Education Minister had claimed the country was going through a recession and funding was not available to rebuild the school.

“Today we hear the Finance Minister Colm Imbert saying that the country is out of the recession. I am hoping that this school that was promised by the Education Minister since 2015 is a priority.”

She said it is difficult for others to understand the situation faced by the parents and teachers of the schools.

“This situation has impacted psychologically on the parents and students, as the hours of exchanging the students at noon and early morning is now taking a toll on everyone.”

She said the Education Minister Anthony Garcia kept saying the students have access to education and it is no big deal.

But, she said, students have a right to a full day of school with proper recreation and other activities that can mould them through their growing years.

“Their rights are being infringed upon.”

Princes Town Presbyterian School No 2 had a good record and many parents stayed with the system despite the issues, she said, but many have got transfers for their children. The school population was 614 in 2015 but has dwindled to 450.

Garcia did not reply to questions on the rebuilding of the school.