Private school set to reopen

Parents of children who attend a private school in east Trinidad are upset over a letter sent by the principal that says classes will resume on April 20 and that relevant school fees are now applicable, although other schools nationwide remain physically closed.

They say measures outlined in the letter were taken without consultation with parents.

In the letter, dated April 14, the principal said all students would be promoted on April 20. She said teachers would begin to teach their current classes next term’s work, so the compression of three terms’ work into two terms, as suggested by the Education Minister, would not happen.
She said teachers are expected to be in a classroom environment and suitably dressed. Classes would begin at 9 am and children would be given their breaks and lunch period.

The letter also said certain parts of the syllabus in science, agricultural science and social studies would be deleted, as the principal found they had no relevance to primary-school-level students, a decision which was taken before the onset of covid19.

It said the time gained would be used to work on comprehension skills, reading and problem-solving. For students studying for the SEA, the principal told parents that review of test papers and tests would continue so their child would be adequately prepared for the exam.

The parents were told they would have to pay the school fees, which range from $4,200 to $4,600, by May 1. Otherwise, the letter warned, the administration would assume the child/children are no longer students of the school.

A concerned father, speaking anonymously for fear of backlash, said no parent was consulted to find out if they had the equipment for their children to participate in online classes.

He said he would have to buy a new device for his child, which was an extra strain on his finances.

He expressed concern about how the children would be supervised, especially in households where there was more than one child, or if one or both parents are essential workers. He said getting small children to focus on devices for long periods is problematic.

He also wondered how one teacher would be able to control and supervise many children learning on devices all at once.

The parent also queried the principal’s decision to discontinue part of the curriculum.

He asked whether it was legal for a private school to be taking such measures, since the Minister of Education had said schools would most likely remain shut until September.
The father said he is worried about having to line up to deposit school fees at the bank, as using online banking might result in their being paid late. He said there has been a lack of compassion in the way this issue had been handled, especially since many families are worried about finances at present.