Following recent protest action by parents of students attending the Ituni Primary School in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) over its deplorable conditions, repairs to the learning institution are soon expected to commence.
The deteriorating corridors at Ituni Primary School
Last week, a decision was made to facilitate temporary arrangements for affected students who are now attending school at a variety of suitable locations in and around the school’s compound. The agreement was made between the Region’s Department of Education and the Ituni Primary Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) last Wednesday, signalling an end to three days of protest action.
Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, Regional Chairman Renis Morian indicated that repairs to the school were in fact catered for in this year’s budget, but noted that there has not been any release of funds as yet.
A Linden-based contractor has been assigned to the repairs project and is presently in the process of mobilising materials to facilitate the school’s rehabilitation. Morian outlined, however, that works should have commenced on Sunday, but information out of the community reaching this publication has suggested that no work had commenced as scheduled.
“He was to start yesterday (Sunday), because he was mobilising, putting the stuff together,” Morian stated on Monday.
He said the bottom flat of the school, which has been identified as one of the temporary locations housing the students in an effort to facilitate the repairs, was in good condition.
The protest, which began last Monday, was fuelled by a number of issues which ranged from malfunctioning and limited washroom facilities to lack of potable water and faulty infrastructure. Parents had also indicated that their requests for an upgrade of the school’s sanitary block have gone unanswered for years, as they pointed out that only one toilet was in use and served both male and female students. Additionally, it was noted that the school’s corridors were in a deplorable state and only one of the school’s staircases was functioning.
Over the course of the following three days, the school had remained closed as parents vowed not to send their children back unless the issues were dealt with. This prompted officials from the Department of Education to visit the school last week as they engaged in discussions with teachers and parents of affected students. The temporary arrangements, which took effect from last Friday, saw Grades Five and Six being housed at the school’s library situated inside the compound, while Grades Three and Four are being housed at the Ituni Small Loggers Association (ISLA) building and Grades One and Two resuming normal classes. (Utamu Belle)
