Region 10 officials, parents concerned over placement of students

Numerous parents and officials in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), moreso Linden, have expressed concern over the placement of students, as complaints have surfaced that some students have not yet been officially placed at schools.
Region 10 Education Committee Chairman Denise Belgrave indicated that she has received numerous complaints from parents that their children have not yet been placed at schools. However information coming from the Region’s Department of Education has indicated that the lists for placement have been sent to schools, and perhaps those parents with queries may be the ones whose names are not yet on the list.
Speaking on the issue Regional Chairman Renis Morian alluded to issues where siblings may be placed at different schools, which he noted is one of the major concerns for parents.
Additionally, Regional Councillor Charles Sampson said he is aware of complaints by parents and pointed out that there must be a suitable policy put in place by the Department of Education. He said in many instances parents are of the belief that they are not getting the required results from the Department of Education. In the absence of a direct policy, he said the process would not be a smooth one.
The Department of Education has over the years placed students at schools in close proximity to their homes.
“It seems as though there is no proper policy in relation to placement of students in various schools…As most of us may know, people have their preferences in terms of schools and sometimes their preferences ties into their addresses. There must be valid reasons by the Education Department for any refusal of a child in a particular school.”
The councillor noted that there have been cases where the parents want their child to go to a particular school because they think it’s a better quality school.
“…but there must be a policy…I know schools have numbers, classes have numbers and those are the things that must influence a decision…unless we have that policy people will always prefer their children to go to certain schools,” Sampson said.
The councillor further related that there are also circumstances where a parent may prefer for their child to attend a certain school because it is in close proximity of their workplace and that such circumstances should be considered. Sampson also called for a Committee to be established to look into such issues, in addition to the Welfare Department.
Meanwhile, Morian outlined that he will seek to have Deputy REO Maylene Stephen, Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, along with head of the Region’s Youth, Culture and Sports Committee meet with Regional Education Officer Marcia Paddy Andrews to have those issues resolved.