Opening of Christ Church Foundation School delayed by 1 week

The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training says the opening of the Christ Church Foundation School has been be delayed until September 23.

Below is the full statement issued by the ministry on Sunday:

In preparation for the opening of school, officials from the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training invited members of the Teachers’ Unions to conduct a walk-through of the Christ Church Foundation School.

It was during that walk-through that a distinct odor of adhesives and other chemical agents were detected. There were other concerns about the state of readiness for the occupation of teachers and students that led to the Ministry convening a meeting with members of its management team, the Teachers’ unions, members of the school’s Board of Management the Principal and the contractors assigned to the job.

Of particular concern was the readiness of the Physics lab, the staff rooms and certain specialist rooms that require certain finishes and the subsequent industrial cleaning. While this is not the ideal situation, the primary concern was for the health and comfort of all students, teachers and staff members.

It was therefore unanimously agreed that the opening of the school be delayed until September 23. In the interim, plans are in place to facilitate online teaching from Tuesday, September 17, to mitigate any learning loss.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the original scope of work, as approved by the Board of Management, had to be expanded due to unforeseen structural challenges. The assigned contractor therefore advised that additional time be allowed for these necessary works to be completed to the satisfaction of all parties.

Members of the Board of Management acknowledged the need for the expanded scope of work and continues to work alongside the contractors to meet the revised deadline. By the conclusion of the meeting, all stakeholders agreed on the way forward to facilitate the completion of work to the satisfaction of all parties.

Despite the delay in opening, the Chairman shared the sentiments of the teachers who expressed gratitude that their spaces are getting the necessary attention, and she indicated that they are prepared to make the necessary teaching adjustments this week, so that they can return to much more favourable conditions.

In a press briefing on September 11, Minister of Education, Kay McConney announced that remedial and maintenance works on school plants will now become a year-round activity. This is to alleviate the tremendous pressure of preparing all Government schools only during summer vacation. This year-round maintenance allows for greater responsiveness by the Ministry and alleviates certain risks impacting the readiness of schools after extended breaks.

The Ministry takes this time to thank the Board of Management of the Christ Church Foundation School for taking charge of any necessities in getting the school ready for teaching and learning. We also thank our contracted partners who work diligently to maintain the structural integrity of our island’s schools.

We value the relationship of cooperation with our Teachers’ Unions who continue to work with us in providing the best working experience for our nation’s teachers. To our teachers, we cannot overstate our gratitude for all that you do, even in less-than-ideal circumstances, to ensure that our students receive the best education and are provided with the best opportunities for learning.

Finally, we want to especially thank parents and guardians of the students for being responsive and working with us as we seek the best outcomes for our children. We look forward to a fulfilling school year replete with new and exciting opportunities for all.