Enraged parents object to deplorable conditions at Goed Fortuin Primary

– students forced to fetch furniture from construction area

As the new school term began on Monday, disgruntled parents turned up at the Goed Fortuin Primary School to protest the deplorable conditions under which their children have to endure.

The parents who flocked the compound early Monday morning, are calling for the facility to be closed until the rehabilitation works are completed.
Though construction work is underway on one section of the school, officials have refused to close the school. This decision caused much discomfort with parents who raised concerns about the safety of their children on a construction site.
In addition, the parents were enraged over the substitute space provided for students, citing that it is “no way healthy” for human dwelling more so for learning.
When Guyana Times arrived at the school, most parents had taken their children away, but a few students still lingered around.
While some students used the time to play games in close proximity to where construction was being done, others were seen fetching furniture from the construction area to the substituted classroom space.
A member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) told this newspaper that when she arrived at the school she noticed a number of parents standing with their children outside the school’s compound.
After investigating, she said teachers were proposing to have the children cramped into another but smaller section of the school. However, there were more than 200 children assembled at the school at that time.
The woman said that upon seeing this, she took her son away along with other parents who were just as concerned about the safety of their children.
“It is risky to leave your children here (at the school) in this state. They could get nail bore, or worst, students could hit each other with the pieces of wood lying around. This is very unsafe for our children.” the parent objected.
She said she called the Education Ministry and the personnel directed her to the education officer responsible for the school.
Just after midday, a ministry official, Devindra Persaud, visited the school and informed parents that the administration will not close the school.
Instead Persaud presented a document for parents to sign, agreeing to the terms and conditions in regards to the hours of school and which class of students would use which days.
While some parents accepted, others continued that their children would be at a risk because of the hazardous structure.
Up to press time, parents were still waiting at the school where they were expecting a visit from the Regional Education Officer who had indicated his intervention in the matter.
It was indicated that the rehabilitation work will be completed in a week’s time. In the meantime, parents held strong to the belief that the works should have been done while school was out for the Easter holidays.