Education Minister: Schools To Reopen As Scheduled Despite Repairs
With the new school year just days away, Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath says schools across Trinidad and Tobago are expected to reopen as scheduled, even as repair works continue at some institutions. ReserveIsland Resorts
The Minister provided the update during a tour of schools undergoing upgrades under the Vacation Repair Programme.
Speaking during the tour, which began at Parvati Girls’ Hindu College on Friday, he said Government set a clear target of ensuring every school is ready for reopening, noting that the programme has grown from last year.
« This year we have increased the number of schools that will repair. Last year we did over 270 for the vocation with just over 500 emergency repairs. One thing you will notice about schools is sometimes when during the vocation period issues occur just before the reopening of schools, and that’s where the emergency works came in. I’m working together with the MTS, together with the school principals, and so over 300 schools, I think the exact number will be about 359 that we are looking at. »
He said the Ministry’s focus remains on several critical areas, while measures have been put in place to ensure schools can reopen safely, even where some repairs are still underway.
“Now, but I want to say before I ask them to speak is that we have focus on washrooms, sewer systems, electrical systems, water storage, ensuring that the roof and classrooms are intact, that the schools have the right furniture to ensure that even if work has continued that schools can start, those areas will be hoarded off and safety signs will be put in place. »
MTS Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Kanhai said significant progress in school repairs has already been made.
« I’m happy that the majority of our projects are ongoing, over 100 projects are completed, fully completed and we’ve had absolute cooperation from our Principals, Minister and the Ministry of Education, so at this point in time we can safely say that we have no school in our radar that will be inhibited from opening. The works as Minister also said will continue after our school hours into the weekends in some cases, but those may be in the minority. »
He said the works span several areas and assured that there is currently no school under MTS supervision that should be prevented from reopening for the start of the new academic term.
“This year the mandate is no different. We have undertaken over 300 projects. Um, all those projects is minister again would have said different types of projects as it pertains to plumbing, electrical, sewer, HSE, air conditioning, fence week, other civil weeks as well.”
Dr Dowlath said one of the challenges facing the Ministry is that the Vacation Repair Programme is not only addressing issues identified during the July-August break but also longstanding maintenance needs across the education sector.
He noted that many projects require coordination with technical agencies and regulatory authorities before works can proceed.
“We have over 800 schools in the education system between Trinidad and Tobago. Over 50% are over 50 years old. And so we are working with the authorities with the books department, with Osh and all the others to ensure that they’re safe.”
He said emergency works will continue where necessary, and where projects extend beyond reopening, safety measures such as hoarding and signage will be used to allow teaching and learning to continue safely.
