…parents frustrated
…all other Region 2 schools in good condition
Parents who have children attending the Aurora Primary and Nursery Schools in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are frustrated as they are being forced to send their children to private “bottom houses” contracted by the Education Ministry to attend classes.
According to the parents, this is as a result of the negligence of the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Rupert Hopkinson who failed to hand over the keys for a formal opening.
Region Two REO Rupert Hopkinson
According to information reaching this publication, both the Primary and Nursery Schools were completed; however, there has been no official commissioning, which is preventing children from occupying the building. Parents are now questioning why such a minor situation is preventing children from occupying the new schools that were intentionally built to create a safe and comfortable environment for learning.
One parent said she has to spend up to $800 per day to send her children to school at the various locations, which was an additional expense.
Guyana Times was informed by reliable sources that the $118 million project was completed. This publication was further informed that the consultants for the building project were trying – unsuccessfully – to reach the REO concerning the opening. Education officers reportedly also tried contacting him to no avail.
The REO was also tasked with overseeing additional infrastructural works and landscaping at the back of the school, but to date works have not started.
Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said he wrote an email to the REO and also the Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan concerning the issue. Ramdatt related that parents, as well as children, have vented their frustrations.
The Regional Chairman said that his concern was the burden parents continued to face to send their children to school. He is also concerned that the schools remained closed for the new school term.
All other schools along the Essequibo Coast are reportedly ready for re-opening today.
At the start of the Aurora Primary and Nursery Schools project, almost all the materials went missing after the original structure was dismantled. The school has since been in the limelight and the regional engineer who was in charge of the project was held accountable. The materials were reportedly taken away by residents without written permission. The issue had engaged the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) numerous times. The Councillors from both the Opposition and Government sides had contended that the materials from the school could have been used to build feeding kitchens for children in the Pomeroon River.
