“Non-conducive” QC labs still awaiting restoration

3 months later

…despite Ministry’s promises

Promises made by the Education Ministry earlier this year to restore the dilapidated wings and Science laboratories of Queen College have remained unfulfilled as students and teachers are still awaiting the rehabilitation, which was promised since August of this year.
Speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday, several employees, who requested not to be named, explained that no rehabilitation work was done on the school’s infrastructure and questions were raised as to whether the Ministry will keep their end of the bargain.
After reports were carried in the media of the school’s dilapidated structure, the Education Ministry had issued a statement, informing that education officers from the Department of Education along with an engineer appointed by the Education Ministry would have visited the school and assessments were conducted. Upon examination, it was revealed that the institution indeed needed a restoration project.
As a result, $11 million was allocated to the works, which should have begun during the last August vacation. The project included routine repairs and maintenance works which are needed. Additionally, the roofs of the East and West wings and the administrative building will be repaired.
The Science laboratory, which was considered by the teachers as “not conducive” to laboratory experiments, will be repainted, cupboards will be installed, and the dilapidated walls and ceilings will be repaired.
Guyana Times had reported earlier that students and teachers were raising complaints about the difficulties they faced on a daily basis, as a result of poor facilities. Calls were made for the labs to be redone, which was one of the main challenges faced.
Sources had revealed that with respect to the quality of students produced every year, the institution requires at least one state-of-the-art laboratory.
It was revealed that in the past, moderators that are dispatched to the school would comment on the state of the laboratories which were being utilised by the students.
Additionally, the unmaintained playgrounds were one of the main reasons the school’s sports activities were held at the Guyana Cricket Club (GCC) ground. Presently, maintenance has been scheduled to fix the ground and sources have indicated that those works have begun.