The Ministry of Education has NOT shut down the Point Fortin East Secondary School. The Ministry takes this opportunity to clarify the current situation at the south based school. The Point Fortin East Secondary school was issued three (3) Prohibition Notices and two (2) Improvement Notices by the Occupational Health and Safety Agency (OSHA). The Ministry of Education contacted the Ministry of Works and Transport to have an assessment of the buildings conducted. The report produced from the assessment indicated that the cracks in the buildings were non-structural and repairable.
Subsequently, the Government Electrical Inspectorate issued to the Ministry, an extensive electrical defects list. Adhering tothe Ministry’s mandate to ensure safety for all occupants of the school, a recommendation was made for the school to be temporarily closed to facilitate repairs. Infrastructural works at the school are near completion and the Ministry is currently working on having the OSHA notices lifted as well as having the electrical repairs completed by Saturday 08th February, 2020 to facilitate reopening by Monday 10th February 2020. Classes will be suspended from today, Tuesday 4th February 2020 to Friday 07th February 2020.
The Ministry again urges members of the public to be responsible when sharing messages and to be careful of spreading misinformation. The commitment to ensuring that all students are able to have access to a quality education remains paramount for the Ministry of Education.