Classes at St John’s Primary School may be disrupted or even called off on Monday as teachers, backed by their union and the parent-teacher association, protest against the rural school’s health and safety conditions.
On Friday, the teachers refused to enter classrooms at the colonial-era building, prompting parents and guardians to collect their children.
Despite the Ministry of Education’s statement asserting that the school remained open, the majority of students were collected by 11 a.m., with only a few left waiting at the Glebe Land school. Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) members, including President Rudy Lovell, were present on the school grounds after an 8 a.m., meeting with the 22 staff members, including auxiliary workers and school assistants.
Lovell cited numerous instances of sick school syndrome and emphasised the unfairness of expecting students and staff to operate in an uncomfortable environment. He drew attention to a decade-long issue at the school, leading to a decline in its roll.
The BUT head urged prompt action, either remediating the school or relocating students elsewhere, emphasising the teachers’ right to prioritise health and safety.
“Unlike the 13th of February, 2023 [when] employees from the Ministry of Education walked out of the building they were occupying because of environmental issues, teachers and students are expected to occupy buildings full of mould and other environmental concerns, contrary to what was done by those at the Ministry of Education. We are saying as a union that the teachers have the right to prioritise their health and safety. This issue at St John’s Primary School has been ongoing for close to ten years and we have seen the school’s population decline,” Lovell said.
“The union is calling on the Ministry of Education to fulfil the promises that they would have made early in the year. I believe the Minister of Education made some comments at St John Parish Speak with regard to the school and rectifying the issues at the school. Teachers and students are continuing to get ill and we are hoping that in short order, the school can either be remediated, or close the school and distribute the students to someplace else.”
The union president noted that even teachers who began in September were already on sick leave, underscoring the urgency for immediate intervention.
He revealed that after students were collected, teachers reported feeling unwell and left the compound.
Nicole Gill-Wilson, the head of the school’s PTA, expressed solidarity with the teachers, echoing their concerns about environmental issues. She highlighted that an environmental report, conducted some time ago, had not been shared with teachers or parents, leaving them in the dark about the extent of the problems.
“We want the report,” she declared. “We want to know if there is indeed an environmental issue and if there is, we want to know what will happen going forward – if the children will be transferred or if a new school will be erected. We are speaking out and nothing is being done. It is like we are speaking to people that are not listening or that are not interested in the health of the students or teachers.”
Gill-Wilson mentioned assurances made during the Parish Speaks town hall meeting in St John where the Prime Minister promised to address the issues.
“When they had the town hall meeting, it was also addressed there and the Prime Minister would have given assurances that the issue would have been handled. They had looked at relocating the children to alternative places such as the church or the community centre but there was no follow-up in regards to that; so the parents are just confused, they want to know [what is going on].”
Several parents have transferred their children due to the ongoing problems and there has been a continued decline in student enrollment. Parents also voiced concerns about children frequently falling ill.
One parent said: “Basically, it is something that needs to be done a long time. My son is five years old and he has been out of school for a month this year because of the mould. So it is something that needs to be rectified and it is not fair that every minute [the children are home sick]; the children can’t learn that way. My son has been constantly getting headaches, a cough and even vomiting. I would take him to the doctor this week, he is home for two weeks, then he is better and then the next two/three weeks he [was] back sick with the same problem as he [has] gone back to school.”
In response, the Ministry of Education said it “had started to put measures in place to address the issues that were identified”.
However, it clarified that it did not close the school.
The ministry said in a statement: “The BUT visited St John’s Primary School on Thursday, November 23, where teachers expressed their grievances. The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training was subsequently informed about the meeting. This morning, teachers were seen congregating in the car park area. While it was unclear what was communicated to parents, many opted not to allow their children to remain.”
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
