The Ann Hill School on Pine Plantation Road, St Paul’s Primary in Brittons Hill, and the Luther Thorne Memorial Primary in Wildey are all set to resume classes as usual on Monday following a series of inspections and rehabilitation work over the Christmas Holiday.
These schools had been dealing with environmental issues that raised concerns about the health and safety of students and staff.
Officials from the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, led by Minister Kay McConney, conducted a tour of the schools on Saturday. The visit included members of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), the various Parent Teachers Associations, cleaning technicians, and other staff members.
McConney noted the ministry’s mission was to ensure that the learning institutions were ready for the start of the new term. She also emphasized the need for improved communication and collaboration between the ministry, unions, and schools to address concerns effectively.
“Some of these complaints have been longstanding and we are seeking to make sure that we are going after them one by one. If your complaint has not been addressed as yet, rest assured we are getting to it … there needs to be a protocol as to how the schools and the Unions and the Ministry work together to ensure that the very real concern like what I have seen today get the necessary attention.
“What has been happening is that we have been following certain steps and when we don’t get a response at certain steps we simply dismiss it and decide that we want to do our own thing. I am simply saying that we have to do better with each other, all of us. The ministry must do better, the unions must do better, all of our schools must do better and together if we are all doing better together we will find ourselves in a much better position to address some of these concerns,” she said.
At the Ann Hill School, reports of respiratory problems among teachers and complaints of mould in some classrooms prompted concerns.
Meanwhile, Luther Thorne Memorial Primary School experienced interruptions throughout the last academic year due to issues such as dust, pests, and various environmental concerns. St Paul’s Primary also underwent remediation work to address termite infestation and structural issues.
BUT First Vice President Julian Pierre expressed satisfaction with the work done following the school inspections. He also assured that it would be “school as usual” at the Ann Hill School, emphasizing the union’s aim to act on behalf of its members and address their concerns.
“Based on the concerns expressed at the Ann Hill School, which surfaced moreso in November last year, the remedial work that has been ongoing we are satisfied [with it]as a union. The environment is safe – environmentally, and we are sure that school will open at Ann Hill next week.
“Our aim is not to cause strife. We aim to act on behalf of our members. If [they say they have concerns and we come and we investigate and we realise that these concerns need to be addressed, we will make contact with the Ministry of Education,” he said.
The rehabilitation work and subsequent inspections aimed to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for students and a more collaborative approach to addressing school-related issues.
As classes resume on Monday, Minister McConney noted that the focus will be on ensuring a smooth and productive start to the new term.
(RG)
