The Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education remains hopeful, barring any unforeseen circumstances that outstanding repairs on a few schools can be completed in time for the opening of schools on Monday 2nd September, 2019.
In instances where schools have been decanted due to ongoing repairs, the Ministry has ensured that the requisite facilities are provided for teachers to deliver the curriculum in an environment most suitable for teaching and learning and students have access to transport and other services to ensure they are not denied their education.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday 30th August, 2019, Minister Garcia named five schools – Couva North Secondary, Aranguez North Secondary, Warrenville Government Primary, Fishing Pond Government Primary and Woodbrook Secondary Schools, where contractors were working feverishly to complete those projects. However, those challenges have been overcome and all repairs are completed at these schools.
In Caroni Education District, the cesspits at Warrenville Presbyterian Primary were cleaned by workers from the Tunapuna Regional Corporation, the cracks sealed and the school sanitized. At Aranguez North Secondary, the leaking underground water lines were repaired, Both of these schools are ready for opening on Monday. Meanwhile, at Couva South Secondary School, WASA workers are repairing the leaking underground water lines.
The Ministry of Education also engaged a contractor to construct two box drains and undertake other infrastructural works at Fishing Pond Presbyterian Primary School. These works have been completed for the school to open on Monday. Meanwhile, extensive roof, ceilings and electrical repairs have been completed at Woodbrook Secondary School and MTS workers are removing all debris from the compound to facilitate the opening of school tomorrow.
On Friday, Minister Garcia told the media the Ministry of Education took on one hundred and ninety four (194) projects under the July August, 2019 Vacation Repairs Programme and the contractors had completed seventy five percent (75%) of those projects by last Friday.