Princes Town $100 extra lessons cancelled

Minister of Education Anthony Garcia said on Wednesday he was not in favour of the "extra lessons" that parents and teachers feel schoolchildren need.

“My view has always been once a curriculum is taught adequately, there would be little or no need for extra lessons,” said Garcia during a visit to Aranguez North Secondary School.

On Wednesday, Newsday reported a Princes Town primary school was charging $100 per session for “additional lessons.” Garcia said charging so much for lessons was “totally and completely unacceptable.”

Chief Education Officer Lisa Henry David said since the situation was brought to the ministry's attention on Tuesday night, the director of school supervision had investigated and it was found parents had asked the teacher in question for the extra lessons. Arrangements had been made for the lessons to be held at a private house, not at the school.

David said since the situation came to light, the supervision division would have asked the teacher to stop. Garcia added, on seeing the Newsday report, the teacher had cancelled the plan.

Garcia said extra lessons are a private arrangement between students and teachers, as long as those lessons are not being held on the school premises, in the case of government schools.

The country has a dual system of education, he said, with a blend of denominational schools and government schools.

“Where the government schools are concerned, the regulations would debar teachers from having private lessons in the government schools.” However, denominational schools are owned and run by boards, and it is up to the board to give permission for lessons on school grounds.

Garcia was visiting Aranguez North Secondary to ensure the school was prepared for upcoming CSEC and CAPE examinations, according to Ministry of Health physical distancing regulations.

He said his ministry plans to visit two schools in each of the seven education districts, one secondary and one primary, to address any issues schools may have in preparing for upcoming CSEC, CAPE and SEA exams.