[UPDATED] Students scamper from flood at St George's College

HEAVY midday rain caused flash flooding at St George's College in Barataria on September 17. In a video posted to social media, students were seen climbing onto chairs to avoid the water. Teachers at the school later said they would stage a walk-out on September 18.

When Newsday arrived at the school around 2.35 pm, parents were waiting to pick up their children and many seemed unaware of the earlier flooding.

One student said the school's hall and the principal's office were affected and students were instructed to stay in their classrooms. The student said classes were not disrupted.

A teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, attributed the flooding to poor drainage near the hall and issues with the roof in the hall and near the principal's office. The teacher said a Form Six student slipped and fell but was not injured. Despite the flooding, the school did not close early.

A parent who did not wish to give their name told Newsday they were “utterly disappointed.”

The parent said, “Taking into consideration, plumbing was one of the issues the minister made a point to say was in the scope of work.”

In a media release on September 17, MP for Barataria/San Juan, Saddam Hosein, described the flooding as an "educational disaster" and called on Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly to account for the $10 million spent on the school.

Hosein said the extent of flooding at the school showed little was done to address ongoing issues, including the flooding.

Referring to the viral video, Hosein said children were seen "scampering from their classrooms, seeking shelter along the school’s corridors and on higher ground."

He said Gadsby-Dolly failed in her responsibility to provide a safe and secure learning environment.

"The Minister of Education cannot be engaging in politicking when it comes to the education of the nation’s children.

"What we witnessed at the start of the new school term was a minister attempting to formally open a school with inadequate facilities, which makes the flooding problem inexcusable."

Hosein stressed Tuesday's flooding incident should not be ignored, as it poses significant health risks and disrupts the students' learning environment.

He called on Gadsby-Dolly to "move with the highest level of alacrity in bringing a speedy resolution to this most distressful situation, which will no doubt impede the smooth dispensation of education.”

In a brief WhatsApp statement, Gadsby-Dolly said flooding is not unusual in the rainy season at some schools. She described it as a challenge her ministry deals with sometimes during the rainy season.

"The facilities department will liaise with the school to determine if assistance is required for cleanup, as has been required at schools in some instances.

"They will also determine possible causes and mitigation strategies."

She said in 2022, when the school was temporarily relocated to the University of TT in Valsayn, her ministry had to intervene in a similar flooding situation at that campus.

"Flooding is one of the challenges with school operation in the rainy season, and the relevant department in the ministry will deal with it, as is usual."

President of the TT Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA), Martin Lum Kin, told Newsday the association is deeply disturbed by the viral flooding video.

He said the association is upset its members and students have to confront such a severe issue.

"What is even more obscene is the fact there was this huge hype and public relations in the reopening of the school, which was clearly not ready for the occupation.”

Lum Kin said he “understands the ceiling in the hall, which cost taxpayers quite a tidy sum of money, shows signs of leaking.”

He said the association’s concerns were not “adequately attended to” and while electricity in the industrial arts block was restored, the air conditioning units, which he deemed crucial for classes, remain out of service.

Lum Kin said the lack of ventilation and the high temperatures have left students and staff uncomfortable. He said one classroom recorded a 36℃ high.

"Labs are unprepared for use and there appear to be high levels of dust within the compound."

In response, he said staff has decided to wear red and stage a walk-out of the compound on September 18.

"TUTTA stands in solidarity with its members at St George's College and will continue to advocate on their behalf."

Parent Teachers Student Association (PTSA) president Dionne Cross, in a phone interview with Newsday, expressed her frustration with the "political attention."

“I do not appreciate people making this political because St George’s is not the only school that was flooded.

"Yet, it is the only school being highlighted by those who want to politicise the issue.”

Cross said Barataria and its surrounding areas also experienced flooding, attributing the problem to a broader drainage issue rather than something solely confined to the school.

“Where would the water run off if the drains are full?” she asked.

She said the Ministry of Education had addressed some issues at the school, such as changing the roof, fixing electrical problems and painting. Cross said the ministry acknowledged additional work is still needed.

“They plan to start this soon, though I am unsure if drainage is part of that plan.”

Asked about staff comments regarding leaks from the roof after the initial repairs, Cross replied, “I am not aware of that issue, so I have no comments on it.”

On August 30, after 22 months of refurbishment, the school reopened, with the government saying $10 million was spent on repairs.

However, Cross, who toured the school during the reopening ceremony, expressed concerns about its condition, saying the floors and hallways were covered in dust and water-soaked chairs were piled in heaps at the side of the building and in some classrooms.

A collapsed ceiling in front of the principal's office led to the school’s closure in 2022, when students were relocated to the UTT Teachers’ College, Valsayn.

At the reopening, Cross and Cecily Maynard-James, chairman of the local school board, St George’s College, and PTSA treasurer, gave the school's condition very low marks.

“On a scale of one to ten, with ten being highly satisfied, I would give it a one,” said Cross.

This story was originally published with the title "St George's College, Barataria floods" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

STAFF at St George's College in Barataria are accusing the government of shoddy work after midday rain on September 17 flooded parts of the school.

Newsday arrived around 2.35 pm, when parents were waiting to pick up their children. The parents said they were unaware of the earlier flooding.

A viral 20-second video shared on social media showed students trapped in their classrooms, looking out at the flooded corridors. Some were seen standing on chairs to avoid the water.

One student told Newsday the flooding mainly affected the areas near the hall and the principal's office and students were instructed to stay in their classrooms. The student said classes were not disrupted.

A teacher who did not wish to give their name said the flooding was caused by poor drainage near the hall, as well as issues with the roof in the hall and near the principal's office.

The teacher said a form six student slipped and fell but was not injured.

Despite the flooding, the school did not close early.

On August 30, after 22 months of refurbishment, the school reopened, with the government saying $10 million had been spent on repairs.

However, members of the school's Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA), who toured the school during the reopening ceremony expressed concerns about its condition.

The floors and hallways were covered in dust and water-soaked chairs were piled in heaps at the side of the building and in some classrooms.

A ceiling that had collapsed in front of the principal's office led to the school’s closure in 2022, when students were relocated to the UTT Teachers’ College, Valsayn.

At the reopening, PTSA president Dionne Cross and Cecily Maynard-James, chairman of the local school board, St George’s College, and PTSA treasurer, gave the school's condition very low marks.

“On a scale of one to ten, with ten being highly satisfied, I would give it a one,” said Cross.