Councillor slams govt for removing Reform Hindu School from budget

Councillor for Reform/Manahambre Chris Arshad Hosein is demanding an explanation from the government on why the completion of Reform Hindu School was not included in the 2021 Development Programme.

Hosein said the last mention of the project in a budget was in 2017, with its estimated cost being $2 million.

In a release on Thursday, he accused the government of showing “blatant disregard” for the students.

“It is clear that the government has no intention of completing this project.

“The parents and students have protested dozens of times with absolutely nothing being done. The government has completely neglected and disregarded the children of Reform Hindu School out of what could only be described as pure spite and malice.”

The most recent occasion parents and students protested was on June 26.

Hosein said it is the “opportune time” for the government to complete the school, since schools are closed owing to the covid19 pandemic.

“What we have is a lackadaisical attitude by the government and when we return back to normal, the issues with this and other schools will persist and it is only the children who will be made to suffer. This is unacceptable,” he said.

He said the Education Ministry said the school was 95 per cent complete in 2015 and is now “falling into disrepair."

It will now cost taxpayers extra, he said, as repairs will have to be done before the school can be finished.

"This is retrograde, malicious and completely absurd.”