School cleaners protest US$79 salary
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol Thursday, 01 September 2011 12:11



Several government-employed sweeper cleaners on Thursday took their plight of lowly-paid salaries- half the minimum wage- in front of the Ministry of Finance. Under the umbrella of the Alliance For Change (AFC), the female-dominated picketers also chanted slogans, calling for better pay.

Miriam Fordyce, who is a sweeper-cleaner at Hopetown Nursery School, West Coast Berbice for more than 10 years, said she experiences great difficulty surviving on GUY$15,800 (US$79) per month. The party noted that the minimum wage is $32,207 (US$161), an amount that the cleaners are not being paid. Depending on assistance from her husband and other persons, the mother of five children said she is also not entitled to benefits from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). “We don’t pay NIS so if you are sick, you cannot carry in sick leave, I feel bad because we are not getting any benefit if you sick,” she told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com).

Rushell Britton,34, of Hopetown Primary School is in a similar plight, saying that she is often forced to borrow to sustain herself and her three children. “Sometimes things rough with the children, sometimes I borrowing, borrowing when I get the money all got to pay back in debt. I ain’t seeing my way,” she told Demerara Waves Online News.

Fordyce and Britton were among those who picketed for fatter pay packets outside the Finance Ministry. While chanting “Reduce Jagdeo pension and pay the sweeper-cleaners their money,”, “Increase salary for sweeper cleaner, less pension for Jagdeo,” and “Where is the democracy in the distribution of wealth,” they also held placards. The slogans on the placards included “AFC says school cleaners are human beings too,” “AFC says school cleaners provide a valuable service too,” “Where is the concern for the working class,” “AFC says $15,000 per month a national disgrace” and “AFC says school cleaners deserve a decent wage,”

The AFC claims it has seen a directive by the Finance Ministry to the Regional Democratic Councils that that sweeper cleaners must be considered contract service providers and not as public servants and so they cannot be paid the minimum wage. “The AFC submits that there is a strong element of criminality associated with such directive,” said the party, adding that many of the sweeper cleaners have been working for at least 10 years. The party noted that several schools have been asking parents to contribute monies to help pay that category of workers more. “It is debasing and dehumanizing for persons to work for less than a minimum wage,” said party presidential candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan from the picket line.

Source

Crisis at Friendship Secondary School - snake and bat infestations, lack of proper furniture among woes
SEPTEMBER 4, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

With one more day left before the start of another school year, some schools are not in any condition to continue classes much less accept new students, since it may prove to be more dangerous than beneficial for children. Reports are that the Friendship Secondary School, located on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), is presently snake-infested due to the overgrown bushes and grass in the school’s compound. Over the past two months, eight snakes of various sizes have been killed in the compound, either by contractors who are currently renovating some parts of the school, or by teachers.


The Allied Arts building

When Kaieteur News visited the school on Friday, last, parents of the new first-year students had just finished their orientation ceremony. The pathway leading from the various offices and classrooms was covered with tall shrubs while garbage was being burnt in the school compound. The teachers’ staffroom had broken windows and pieces of wood nailed over sections to cover the spaces. Some of the parents who are very concerned as it related to the safety of their children spoke out. “My son will be coming here from this term and this place don’t even look safe at all. The fence at the back cover with grass and bush, and this place got snakes. I don’t live far from here and you know how much other parents talking about it being unsafe here. But what we going to do? We children get this school so we got to send them. Dem don’t have proper furniture or enough to use anyhow,” complained the boy’s mother.

This newspaper was made to understand that the school’s auditorium cannot facilitate the entire student population during assemblies and as a result the assemblies would take place in the compound. This will prove an additional problem in the following school term since grass has taken over the sections which were previously used to host general assemblies and physical education classes. A father of two children who will be attending the Friendship Secondary School as of this term, expressed his dissatisfaction with the school environment.


The technical drawing classroom

“They got a chicken farm behind here that smelling awful much less when the breeze blow in this direction. Garbage been here over a month and only today (Friday) the teachers trying to help somehow and burn them out. The drains need cleaning. The washroom ain’t have any running water since last term so you can imagine what going on in there” Kaieteur News observed that the female washrooms were in an appalling state while the male washrooms were worse. There was no running water, sinks were broken off and lying on the floor, the floors were badly damaged and tiles were broken. A terrible stench was being emitted from all of the washrooms.

It was also disclosed that the Allied Arts Building, which can only be accessed by trekking through the overgrown bushes, contains the Technical Drawing and Science labs, which are not even properly equipped. Accessing the building is dangerous for students and teachers since snakes could venture out at any point in time while they were passing through. Another parent pointed out that the school also has “special needs students” and therefore should be better equipped and in good condition to facilitate such students. “The school only has one standpipe where water is coming on and off. There should be a water trough here. Some children have special needs and require better care and facilities which could accommodate them. Here children are getting rashes. Bats are living along the stairways. There are exposed wires that can threaten the lives of children, and nobody doing anything. Is this what schools coming to now?”


The male washroom with broken sinks and tiles

Source

Unrest mars first day at Golden Grove Secondary
Written by Denis Scott Chabrol Monday, 05 September 2011 15:20



The first day of the new school year was Monday marred by unrest at Golden Grove Secondary School over a shortage of furniture and other poor conditions of the institution. Police were summoned to the East Coast Demerara School to bring the unrest under control by ordering parents and some students out of the yard.

Brightly dressed in their new school uniforms, many of them had to sweep the dusty classrooms instead of being accommodated in a conducive teaching-learning environment. Reporters witnessed clogged toilets, dirty classrooms and few pieces of furniture. “No desk, no bench, no school,” “No water, no school,” and “No furniture, exposed wire, no light, no door, no water,” were among the slogans on the placards that were held up by the parents and their children.”

Angered at the fact that they paid GUY$2,000 contingency fee per child, the parents vented their anger that the money was not used to ensure that the school was cleaned. Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) said the issues were resolved by supplying furniture and cleaning the premises. “Furniture was delivered and arrangements were made by the DEO (District Education Officer) to take care of the compound,” he said. He could not immediately say why the school was allowed to be in that condition and added that the Regional Department of Education was addressing the matter.

Children and parents complained that the school leaks and sometimes the students have to shelter with umbrellas. Concerns were also raised about faulty electrical wiring. Peoples National Congress Reform One Guyana (PNCR-1G) parliamentarian, Ernest Elliot said the region was demanding a new school. He blamed the central government for withholding funds to finance major works on the school. “We want a new school. Central government is not giving the kind of money for that school to be renovated and extended a long time ago,” he told Demerara Waves Online News. Elliot noted that government instead went ahead and built the Hope Secondary School in exchange for handing back the Cove and John school to the Hindu community.

Source

I will post albert's response in advance:

Education.

2010

 Government expended a sum of $21.8 billion over the last year in the sector.

 The National School Feeding programme which cost over $900 million and benefited more than 63,000 students.

 The National School Uniform Assistance Programme which benefited over 200,000

 $923 million was expended on construction works at 2 new technical institutes in Regions 3 and 5, along with the procurement of furniture, tools, and equipment for all institutes,

 $129 million was expended on the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme implemented in 18 additional secondary schools.

 $875 million has been expended on teacher education towards the operations and renovation works at the Cyril Potter College, which added a total of 364 trained teachers to the education system in 2010.

 $2.4 billion was also expended in 2010 towards the maintenance, rehabilitation, extension and construction of educational facilities throughout Guyana

 78 information technology laboratories were completed at primary and secondary schools

2011

 $24.3 billion has been allocated towards the continued successful implementation of the National Education Strategic Plan in 2011

 US$4.2 million Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project of which $200 million is budgeted for 2011

 $919 million has been budgeted for teacher training towards the medium term target of achieving 70 percent trained teachers in the system by 2013.

 Work has commenced and will continue during 2011 on the design of a US$10 million project to strengthen the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guyana as a permanent academic and research institutional

 University of Guyana has been allocated $769 million towards the operations and maintenance of the Turkeyen and Tain campuses.

 $450 million has been provided for student loans.

 The National School Feeding programme has been allocated over $1 billion and will continue to deliver a snack to every student in all nursery schools and grades 1 and 2 of primary schools.

 School Uniform Assistance Programme will continue to be implemented in 2011, and will see every school child provided with one school uniform during the year.

 $1.6 billion has been budgeted for technical vocational education and include the completion of construction works at the vocational centres in Regions 3 and 5, the construction of a student dormitory at Essequibo Technical Institute.

 $2.8 billion has been allocated for the continued maintenance, rehabilitation, extension and construction of educational facilities countrywide.

http://guyanafriends.com/eve/f...604972/m/68120182051

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

I will post albert's response in advance:

Education.

Good evening .. How yuh duh, Gerhard.

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

I will post albert's response in advance:

Education.

Good evening .. How yuh duh, Gerhard.

I deh Uncle How is everything on your end?

Golden Grove Secondary students, parents protest deplorable condition
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

As the new school term commenced yesterday, parents of students attending the Golden Grove Secondary School, East Coast Demerara, yesterday staged a protest against the deplorable conditions at the institution. The parents called for the immediate closure of the school and for the Ministry of Education to step in.

Member of Parliament and resident of Golden Grove, Ernest Elliot, yesterday told Kaieteur News that a number of parents and concerned villagers held a meeting at the school on Sunday to address the problems. They had all agreed to a protest to voice their concerns yesterday. Elliot said that the school should have been renovated and extended some six years ago. According to the MP a programme was in place to help facilitate this, but it was neglected. According to Elliot the children are made to sit in a classroom which is not conducive for learning. He said that the classroom lacks furniture and other basic necessities. They don’t have good toilet facilities or good windows to protect the children from the elements, he added. Elliot stressed that the government needs to pay more interest into the situation.

Another parent, Madonna Meredith, who has one child attending the school, said that the Ministry of Education must be more involved. Shamdai Narine, who has her young daughter attending the school, said that she was not pleased with the conditions. The woman said that there was no running water at the school, the toilets are not functional and that there is an unbearable stench emanating from the classrooms. Shonette Giles, who has a niece attending the school, said that a new school is needed. The woman explained that the school flooring is falling apart.
She stressed that there is no running water or electricity in the school. “How can children learn in these conditions….its not conducive for learning” Giles stressed. According to the woman, another parent David Gentle, was shocked by an exposed electrical wire while at the school on Sunday. Giles said that parents and other concerned villagers had congregated at the school in an effort to address the condition of the school.
Yesterday, as parents were out protesting the police were called in. Three van loads of police were seen outside the compound while several ranks were inside of the school’s compound.

As this newspaper attempted to speak with the head teacher, the woman became hostile and shouted at reporters. “Get out of the school I don’t want to say anything,” the headmistress said.

Deplorable Toilets…

As the parents walked around the school’s compound a number of them pointed to the toilet facilities. Inside the toilet area, the scent hits like a jackhammer. Some of the classrooms close to the toilet area were without any furniture. The concrete water fountain in the school’s compound was in a terrible state. Moss was everywhere.

The home economics department and the science laboratory are non functional and have been this way for some time. Minister of Education Shaik Baksh has said that he was extremely concerned about the situation. According to the Minister these schools’ repairs and other things come under the direct command of the regional authority not central schools. Baksh said that when these things happen they interrupt the delivery of education. The Minister further told Kaieteur News that some work was done on the building but more needed to be done. According to Baksh, new windows and a gate would be put in place. In regards to the furniture situation the Minister said that some were sent to the school yesterday afternoon and another set will be sent today. He further told Kaieteur News that the toilet situation was caused by broken pipes, and that is being rectified. Parents have stated that they would be holding another protest if the needs are not met in the immediate future.

Source

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

I deh Uncle

How is everything on your end?

I am relaxing plus catching up on news.

I trust that all is also well with you.

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

I deh Uncle

How is everything on your end?

I am relaxing plus catching up on news.

I trust that all is also well with you.

Yes I am well, thank you. Tired now Goodnight Uncle D_G

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:

Goodnight Uncle D_G

Goodnight Gerhard.

Parents, students protest shoddy conditions at Golden Grove school
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

Students of the Golden Grove Secondary School yesterday returned to school, but not to class as they took their grievances about the physical condition of their institution to the picket-line. They were joined by their parents and guardians in chanting slogans and holding placards that told a story of the dreadful conditions at the decades-old wooden structure.

When Stabroek News arrived at the school yesterday, scores of parents and students were in the yard chanting and holding up placards which read: “No Desk, No School,” “No Water, No School,” and “We want a new School,” among others. Ministry of Education officials could not be contacted for comment.


An angry parent voices her concerns as others chant in the background at the Golden Grove Secondary School, East Coast Demerara yesterday.

Parent, Desiree Taylor, said: “My child is here for the first term. They took $2,000 registration fee and here it is no desk or bench to sit on; no water nothing. I’m taking her back home. I will not accept this. If these things are not in place, no school.” She added that it seemed the school was better run by a person of unsound mind who some time back had appointed himself a Ministry of Education official and for two weeks acted in this capacity.


Children protesting in the Golden Grove Secondary School compound yesterday.

Another parent, Abiola Andrews, said: “De school in no condition. Upstairs, if de girls using de toilet de boys could peep dem. When rain fall my child has to sit with an umbrella open. This is a dry weather school. When I in meeting, de floor rocking with me. Look at my size, you ain’t see they want I fall through and must be dead. This is a cow pen school.”

The complaints continued as other parents were interviewed. David Gentle, who has two children attending the school said, “This school gone to the dogs. Oh my God, look exposed wires, a leaking roof vines growing all over the school. What is this?” He said he wanted to see the ministry rebuild the school since the cost of repairs would be the equivalent to building a new school given its current state. He pointed to a classroom where a few children were seated on dilapidated furniture and a class where a teacher, using a desk as a chair, was preparing her attendance register. The teacher declined comment.


Having no chair a teacher sits on a desk to mark the daily register at the Golden Grove Secondary School yesterday.

The Home Economics Department of the school when checked was also in chaos. A form four student of the school explained that there was no running water to the department. While, she added, there were some equipment “it is nothing to boast about”. Her classmate added that she and others try to get to school early although they have to sit three in a bench. If they were late, she explained, they would be forced to stand for the duration of the school day. In addition, for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination in June, school officials had to borrow furniture from the neighbouring primary school. One parent said, “de people tek it back and dem right we want we own thing”.


The kitchen of the Home Economics Department at the Golden Grove Secondary School.

A senior official of the school, who requested anonymity, said this was not the beginning of woes for the school. She said Ministry of Education officials hardly ever visit. “Last time a mad man ran this school for two weeks. This happened because Ministry of Education officials do not communicate with us. It seems we are behind God’s back. Only when the story broke they came in and there was one hulaboo. I came to this school and many scholars came out of this school. I have my bills to pay too, that’s why I stay or else I would just stay home.”

The parents are calling on government and ministry officials to address the matter urgently. This said if this was not done in a timely fashion, they would have no alternative but to bar entry to the compound. The police were called in to remove the protestors. However, no one was arrested although they refused to comply. They added they were prepared to deal with law enforcement officials in the future should they be called in to remove them.

Source

Berbice schools without furniture on first day
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Several parents in Berbice yesterday reported that their children were not comfortably seated on the first day of school. Parents of students attending the Tutorial Academy Secondary School (TASS), Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) and the Vryman’s Erven Secondary (VESS) had informed this publication of a shortage of adequate furniture at the respective schools.

Sources did indicate that children were seated three in a bench and some were standing at the Tutorial Academy and Berbice Educational Institute. Other sources told this publication that most parents of the new First Form intake at the NAMS took their own furniture for their children to be seated on the first day of the new school year. However, the Regional Education Officer was seemingly not aware of the furniture situation. At least one photograph provided by a parent of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary showed students sitting three in a bench and some without desks. A multi-million dollar contract was signed with the Government and Memorex Contracting Services for the construction and supply of school furniture for Berbice schools.


A class at the Vryman's Erven Secondary in New Amsterdam with hardly any furniture

Kaieteur News contacted the Regional Education Officer of Region Six, Shafiran Bhajan, to ascertain whether the schools that were experiencing the shortage on Monday received furniture during the just concluded holiday season and asked for the breakdown of allocation of furniture to the affected schools. She said that 419 pairs of A-type and 550 pairs of B- Type furniture were distributed to Berbice schools during the holidays. She added that 70 pairs of C- type furniture will be distributed shortly to St Therese, Corriverton, All Saints and Auchlyne Primary Schools. To ease the burden, too, she said that 30 pairs of used furniture were uplifted from a Primary -top school in the town. These were destined for the Vryman’s Erven Secondary to ease the shortage there. She said that 13 pairs will be available shortly to the TASS. At least one classroom at the NAMS is being housed at the National Resource Centre in the NAMS Compound.

Parents have opined that they were told not to bring furniture for their children on the first day of school but yet their children had to endure a lot of discomfort on the first day. Several NAMS parents opted to bring their own combination chairs, some parents reported. Mrs Bhajan did reveal that a $10.8M contract was signed last week with three contractors, one of whom was Bonny’s Furniture of West Berbice, for more furniture for Berbice schools. This money had been released to the Region Six administration “to cater for full demand”, Bhajan added. “That will take care of the region’s needs, based on the inventory collected from schools”, Bhajan noted.

She and her officers, during the last school year, had visited several schools with digital cameras and had taken photographs of seating arrangements. This information, along with an assessment, was submitted to the government, who, after consideration allocated that $10.8M contract for more furniture. Government has been spending a lot of money on the same thing each new school year. She stated that the furniture are destroyed after social events are held in school buildings across Berbice. She further admitted that some of the furniture are not built to standard. “Quality control is a major issue.”

Source

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:
Berbice schools without furniture on first day
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Several parents in Berbice yesterday reported that their children were not comfortably seated on the first day of school. Parents of students attending the Tutorial Academy Secondary School (TASS), Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) and the Vryman’s Erven Secondary (VESS) had informed this publication of a shortage of adequate furniture at the respective schools.

Sources did indicate that children were seated three in a bench and some were standing at the Tutorial Academy and Berbice Educational Institute. Other sources told this publication that most parents of the new First Form intake at the NAMS took their own furniture for their children to be seated on the first day of the new school year. However, the Regional Education Officer was seemingly not aware of the furniture situation. At least one photograph provided by a parent of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary showed students sitting three in a bench and some without desks. A multi-million dollar contract was signed with the Government and Memorex Contracting Services for the construction and supply of school furniture for Berbice schools.


A class at the Vryman's Erven Secondary in New Amsterdam with hardly any furniture

Kaieteur News contacted the Regional Education Officer of Region Six, Shafiran Bhajan, to ascertain whether the schools that were experiencing the shortage on Monday received furniture during the just concluded holiday season and asked for the breakdown of allocation of furniture to the affected schools. She said that 419 pairs of A-type and 550 pairs of B- Type furniture were distributed to Berbice schools during the holidays. She added that 70 pairs of C- type furniture will be distributed shortly to St Therese, Corriverton, All Saints and Auchlyne Primary Schools. To ease the burden, too, she said that 30 pairs of used furniture were uplifted from a Primary -top school in the town. These were destined for the Vryman’s Erven Secondary to ease the shortage there. She said that 13 pairs will be available shortly to the TASS. At least one classroom at the NAMS is being housed at the National Resource Centre in the NAMS Compound.

Parents have opined that they were told not to bring furniture for their children on the first day of school but yet their children had to endure a lot of discomfort on the first day. Several NAMS parents opted to bring their own combination chairs, some parents reported. Mrs Bhajan did reveal that a $10.8M contract was signed last week with three contractors, one of whom was Bonny’s Furniture of West Berbice, for more furniture for Berbice schools. This money had been released to the Region Six administration “to cater for full demand”, Bhajan added. “That will take care of the region’s needs, based on the inventory collected from schools”, Bhajan noted.

She and her officers, during the last school year, had visited several schools with digital cameras and had taken photographs of seating arrangements. This information, along with an assessment, was submitted to the government, who, after consideration allocated that $10.8M contract for more furniture. Government has been spending a lot of money on the same thing each new school year. She stated that the furniture are destroyed after social events are held in school buildings across Berbice. She further admitted that some of the furniture are not built to standard. “Quality control is a major issue.”

Source

shame on the PPP. Trying to forge economic development without social development.

NEXT them children got to sit on the floor. Mut and jeff could not get the truck in place to deliver these Berbice chairs?

LOL

VOTE FOR PPP AND EXPECT MORE OF THIS. THIS BEING ELECTION YEAR THE BUTTHEADS COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, BUT NOOOOOO.

Albert, what the rass you gotta say bout dis, matter of fact, what HAVE they told you to write about on this here report?

ALBERTTTTT!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:
Berbice schools without furniture on first day
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Several parents in Berbice yesterday reported that their children were not comfortably seated on the first day of school. Parents of students attending the Tutorial Academy Secondary School (TASS), Berbice Educational Institute (BEI), New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) and the Vryman’s Erven Secondary (VESS) had informed this publication of a shortage of adequate furniture at the respective schools.

Sources did indicate that children were seated three in a bench and some were standing at the Tutorial Academy and Berbice Educational Institute. Other sources told this publication that most parents of the new First Form intake at the NAMS took their own furniture for their children to be seated on the first day of the new school year. However, the Regional Education Officer was seemingly not aware of the furniture situation. At least one photograph provided by a parent of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary showed students sitting three in a bench and some without desks. A multi-million dollar contract was signed with the Government and Memorex Contracting Services for the construction and supply of school furniture for Berbice schools.


A class at the Vryman's Erven Secondary in New Amsterdam with hardly any furniture

Kaieteur News contacted the Regional Education Officer of Region Six, Shafiran Bhajan, to ascertain whether the schools that were experiencing the shortage on Monday received furniture during the just concluded holiday season and asked for the breakdown of allocation of furniture to the affected schools. She said that 419 pairs of A-type and 550 pairs of B- Type furniture were distributed to Berbice schools during the holidays. She added that 70 pairs of C- type furniture will be distributed shortly to St Therese, Corriverton, All Saints and Auchlyne Primary Schools. To ease the burden, too, she said that 30 pairs of used furniture were uplifted from a Primary -top school in the town. These were destined for the Vryman’s Erven Secondary to ease the shortage there. She said that 13 pairs will be available shortly to the TASS. At least one classroom at the NAMS is being housed at the National Resource Centre in the NAMS Compound.

Parents have opined that they were told not to bring furniture for their children on the first day of school but yet their children had to endure a lot of discomfort on the first day. Several NAMS parents opted to bring their own combination chairs, some parents reported. Mrs Bhajan did reveal that a $10.8M contract was signed last week with three contractors, one of whom was Bonny’s Furniture of West Berbice, for more furniture for Berbice schools. This money had been released to the Region Six administration “to cater for full demand”, Bhajan added. “That will take care of the region’s needs, based on the inventory collected from schools”, Bhajan noted.

She and her officers, during the last school year, had visited several schools with digital cameras and had taken photographs of seating arrangements. This information, along with an assessment, was submitted to the government, who, after consideration allocated that $10.8M contract for more furniture. Government has been spending a lot of money on the same thing each new school year. She stated that the furniture are destroyed after social events are held in school buildings across Berbice. She further admitted that some of the furniture are not built to standard. “Quality control is a major issue.”

Source

shame on the PPP. Trying to forge economic development without social development.

NEXT them children got to sit on the floor. Mut and jeff could not get the truck in place to deliver these Berbice chairs?

LOL

If its a personal non government job, mut and jeff will find a government delivery truck real quick quick.
Two of the most disliked persons in Berbice.

Poor turnout at Friendship Secondary - weeding begins in compound, additional furniture provided
SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Two days after the Friendship Secondary School, East Bank Demerara, officially re-opened its doors to welcome its students, there has been a very poor turnout as a result of parents not being satisfied that the school environment is in an acceptable condition.
A number of parents blatantly refused to allow their children to return to the school which is deemed “dangerous” since the compound and buildings have now become snake and bat infested.


The Friendship Secondary School

Some children were seen on the roadway trying to get transportation to return home on the first day of school even before the lunch hour because they could not work in the current condition. Kaieteur News understands that some repairs were completed at the school during the August vacation period. However, a lot of work is still left to be done. The school compound had become snake infested due to the overgrown bushes and grass. Over the past two months, eight snakes of various sizes have been killed in the said compound, either by contractors who were renovating some parts of the school, or by teachers.

It was during the orientation ceremony held on Friday, last, that the parents of first-year students began voicing their disappointment about the state of the school building and its compound. “My son will be coming here from this term and this place don’t even look safe at all. The fence at the back cover with grass and bush and this place got snakes. I don’t live far from here and you know how much other parents talking about it being unsafe here. But what we going to do? We children get this school so we got to send them. Dem don’t have proper furniture or enough to use anyhow,” complained one boy’s mother.

Kaieteur News observed that the female washrooms were in an appalling state while the male washrooms were worse. There was no running water, sinks were broken off and lying on the floor, the floors were badly damaged and tiles were broken. A terrible stench was being emitted from all of the washrooms. Another parent pointed out that the school also has “special needs students” and therefore should be better equipped and in good condition to facilitate such students. “The school only has one standpipe where water is coming on and off. There should be a water trough here. Some children have special needs and require better care and facilities which could accommodate them. Here children are getting rashes. Bats are living along the stairways. There are exposed wires that can threaten the lives of children, and nobody doing anything. Is this what schools coming to now?”

This newspaper was yesterday told that the school has received additional furniture, weeding is presently being done in the compound, and less than 50 percent of the students have turned up for classes. It is hoped by the end of the week, the situation will be rectified and there will a full turnout of students at the Friendship Secondary School.

Source

Region 6 school furniture issue…Education officer summons headteachers to dismiss KN article…despite photo evidence
SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

The Regional Education Officer of Region 6, Shafiran Bhajan, refuted an article in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, ‘Berbice schools without furniture on first day’ and called on three headteachers of New Amsterdam schools to do the same. The official expressed dissatisfaction with the “erroneous allegations”, even though photographic evidence of children seated three in a bench and without desks was published along with the said article.

On Monday, several parents had contacted Kaieteur News about their children being uncomfortable on the first day of the new school year. Kaieteur News, later that day, learnt from reliable sources at several secondary schools across Berbice, that there had indeed been a shortage of furniture, but that the issue was being kept covered by the officials.


Photographic evidence of a furniture shortage on Monday, a claim blatantly denied on yesterday by Regional Education Officer of Region 6, Shafiran Bhajan and other education officers.

On Tuesday, angered by the contents of the article, Mrs Bhajan summoned Guyana Times, Guyana Chronicle and LRTVS Channel 10 to her office, along with headteachers from New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS), Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS) and Tutorial Academy Secondary Schools (TASS) after which they (the headteachers) too were asked to refute the said article.

This newspaper had contacted Mrs Bhajan on Monday afternoon to answer to the allegations and she explained that there was a difficulty in transporting furniture to the Vryman’s Erven Secondary and Tutorial Academy Secondary. She mentioned that the truck was not available to fetch desks and benches to the mentioned schools, but that this would be done by late Monday. However, at Tuesday’s meeting with some sections of the media and the headteachers at the Department of Education, the officials seemed to have conflicted themselves by admitting that there was a problem on the first day of school.

Education Officer of Secondary Schools in the region, Celeste Bristol La Rose, who was also present during yesterday’s meeting with Bhajan and the three Headteachers, admitted that “the furniture for these students could not have been moved earlier and that is because the truck responsible for moving furniture had to go to Georgetown….and as such… the truck could not be used, so it was only yesterday (Monday) that we were able to move the furniture to the schools for those students”. Yet, Bhajan denied any furniture shortage in schools on the first day of school.

The furniture, La Rose mentioned, was delivered after school on Monday afternoon to the affected schools. Sources yesterday revealed that even though there would have been furniture problems at the aforementioned schools, the headteachers may have been pressured to refute claims of furniture shortage, in fear. NAMS principal, Jacqueline Benn, refuted only “some of the claims” of the said article, while VESS headteacher, Deonarine Mangra, stated that the situation at his school was much better than that of the first day of school, regarding furniture.

While furniture was quickly distributed to the affected schools late Monday, Kaieteur News has learnt that there is still need for more furniture at Canje Secondary and Corentyne Comprehensive. During a telephone interview with the headteacher of CCSS yesterday, this newspaper learned that over two classrooms of furniture are needed, but the school’s Parent Teacher Association is trying to assist in this regard.

Source

quote:

Originally posted by Gerhard Ramsaroop:
Region 6 school furniture issue…Education officer summons headteachers to dismiss KN article…despite photo evidence
SEPTEMBER 7, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

The Regional Education Officer of Region 6, Shafiran Bhajan, refuted an article in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News, ‘Berbice schools without furniture on first day’ and called on three headteachers of New Amsterdam schools to do the same. The official expressed dissatisfaction with the “erroneous allegations”, even though photographic evidence of children seated three in a bench and without desks was published along with the said article.

On Monday, several parents had contacted Kaieteur News about their children being uncomfortable on the first day of the new school year. Kaieteur News, later that day, learnt from reliable sources at several secondary schools across Berbice, that there had indeed been a shortage of furniture, but that the issue was being kept covered by the officials.


Photographic evidence of a furniture shortage on Monday, a claim blatantly denied on yesterday by Regional Education Officer of Region 6, Shafiran Bhajan and other education officers.

On Tuesday, angered by the contents of the article, Mrs Bhajan summoned Guyana Times, Guyana Chronicle and LRTVS Channel 10 to her office, along with headteachers from New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS), Vryman’s Erven Secondary School (VESS) and Tutorial Academy Secondary Schools (TASS) after which they (the headteachers) too were asked to refute the said article.

This newspaper had contacted Mrs Bhajan on Monday afternoon to answer to the allegations and she explained that there was a difficulty in transporting furniture to the Vryman’s Erven Secondary and Tutorial Academy Secondary. She mentioned that the truck was not available to fetch desks and benches to the mentioned schools, but that this would be done by late Monday. However, at Tuesday’s meeting with some sections of the media and the headteachers at the Department of Education, the officials seemed to have conflicted themselves by admitting that there was a problem on the first day of school.

Education Officer of Secondary Schools in the region, Celeste Bristol La Rose, who was also present during yesterday’s meeting with Bhajan and the three Headteachers, admitted that “the furniture for these students could not have been moved earlier and that is because the truck responsible for moving furniture had to go to Georgetown….and as such… the truck could not be used, so it was only yesterday (Monday) that we were able to move the furniture to the schools for those students”. Yet, Bhajan denied any furniture shortage in schools on the first day of school.

The furniture, La Rose mentioned, was delivered after school on Monday afternoon to the affected schools. Sources yesterday revealed that even though there would have been furniture problems at the aforementioned schools, the headteachers may have been pressured to refute claims of furniture shortage, in fear. NAMS principal, Jacqueline Benn, refuted only “some of the claims” of the said article, while VESS headteacher, Deonarine Mangra, stated that the situation at his school was much better than that of the first day of school, regarding furniture.

While furniture was quickly distributed to the affected schools late Monday, Kaieteur News has learnt that there is still need for more furniture at Canje Secondary and Corentyne Comprehensive. During a telephone interview with the headteacher of CCSS yesterday, this newspaper learned that over two classrooms of furniture are needed, but the school’s Parent Teacher Association is trying to assist in this regard.

Source

Like the region 6 administration, these people sit back and take no proactive action before school opens for the year, yet they get pissed when its brought to their attention that they do not do their job properly.
Unfortunately, the students become the losers.

Parents, regional officials to meet on Golden Grove school repairs
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

Region 4 education officials and parents of students attending the Golden Grove Secondary School will meet today to discuss needed building repairs, which have forced its temporary closure. The meeting is scheduled for 8:15am at the Regional Democratic Council, at Triumph and follows a protest by parents on Monday over the state of the school.

Stabroek News revisited the school yesterday and was informed by a teacher that 50 pairs of school furniture were delivered by the Regional Education officers earlier in the day. Home Room teachers were seen fixing their respective classrooms to accommodate the furniture, while children were seen playing in the school compound and sitting at nearby food stalls on the road.


Students helping to remove broken furniture from classrooms.

Parents held a meeting later yesterday afternoon and resuscitated the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). Executives of that body formed a committee that will meet regional officials today to decide on a way forward for the school.


A section of the school

David Gentle, PTA representative, stated that they will not allow their students to return to the classroom until all other matters were resolved at this morning’s meeting. Said Gentle, “We will not allow a couple pieces of furniture to bribe us. We are grateful yes, but we will keep the school closed until all these repairs are facilitated.” He added, “We have housing proposals, among other things, to show to them in case they say the students have nowhere to go.” PTA executives stated that they will query from the officials the extension of the school, promised to them six years ago by the Minister of Education .


Some of the new pieces of furniture that were delivered to the school yesterday

If the outcome of the meeting was not favourable, the parents stated that they will protest the offices of the Minister of Education and the President. Parents on Monday closed the school, demanding immediate repairs to the derelict building.

Source

‘No Child Left Behind’ policy demoralising school system – Concerned Teachers
SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

The Ministry of Education will be reviewing its ‘No Child Left Behind’ policy next year to ascertain how it has been integrated in the school system and if its objectives are being accomplished. This will be done through monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and consultations with teachers and other key education stakeholders.

However, a number of concerned teachers have stated that they cannot wait until next year to give their opinions about the policy through consultations. They are calling for its immediate removal as it is, in their opinion, compromising the classroom as a learning environment. The teachers emphasised that the school system was already plagued with some delinquent students and this policy has helped to demoralise the system further. They contended that the students are cognizant that they will be promoted regardless if they fail, so no attempt is being made to learn.

It was revealed that some students do not sit their end of term examinations. As such this contributes to the increasing number of students failing and being unable to cope in the long run. A teacher from a school located in the city disclosed that about 180 students failed at the institution last term. The teacher emphasized that though failing is not new to the school, it has never been in such large numbers. The teachers stated that they are sometimes blamed for the poor performances of students but the reality is that the education system needs revamping. It was stressed that the policies that are being developed need to be teacher-friendly, giving them the authority they need to command a classroom.

They opined that the much touted Remedial Education Programme that is expected to make this policy effective is not achieving its goal. The teachers explained that not all students who fail attend the remedial classes during the holidays, but they return to school, passing unhindered through the system.

Source

This Education Officer has waged war against me
SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER LETTERS

Dear Editor,

I must let the public know what is once again happening to me because of speaking out against wrongdoing in Region Six. The Region Six Education Officer has waged an all- out war against me for exposing the shortage of furniture in Berbice schools through an article that was published in the Kaieteur News on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. Along with the article, there was published photographic evidence of furniture shortage, at the school where I teach.

During that day, I received several anonymous reports from parents who were very angry about the situation at three other secondary schools in New Amsterdam. After compiling a report later that afternoon and contacting the officer for her comments, I caused to have the article published in the Tuesday edition. That sparked rage in the individual, who summoned three head teachers to her office along with sections of the media, including a TV station where her sister is the Editor.

Those head teachers were asked to say to the media that my article was erroneous and inaccurate (even though a photo of furniture shortage was supplied). The head teachers present at the meeting (at least two of them) turned their attention away from the issue and started to repeat my name to the media, calling me “unscrupulous” and such. They said that their schools had no shortage of furniture. Well, I understand their jobs were at stake and that they had to do what they did, but I wondered how they were able to look their staff in the eye after they would have returned to their schools (knowing full well that their schools indeed needed furniture but that they said the opposite just to please this individual).

Mr. Editor, all this officer had to do was to admit that there was a problem with furniture distribution to schools on the first day, and acknowledge that the photograph was credible. Instead, she has launched an attack on me, by making it her duty now to get rid of me. She wants to muzzle press freedom and silence me and influence what I do after I leave school daily. My job as a freelance reporter for KN begins after my job with the Ministry of Education ends at 2:30pm and, after nearly a year of me being KN’s freelance Berbice reporter, this education officer is only now seeing this as a problem and wants to get rid of me.

I am a perceived threat in this part of Guyana, a big threat, not only to her, but to other persons who have vested interests in this Region. She said that she has forwarded the article to the Ministry of Education and Teaching Service Commission and lawyers as well. Perhaps they are planning to take me to court. But I have news for her. I will not sit idly by and allow injustice to take place. This officer is looking for loopholes to get at me. She telephoned my school on Tuesday morning and the first thing she asked my head teacher was to check all my records, including my Notes of Lessons.

But I have all my stuff in order. I am a very good teacher to the children in whom my care is entrusted and I know good sense will prevail at the end of all of this. I have sought over the years to further my academic and professional qualifications by becoming trained and am now in the final phase of studies at the University of Guyana. I am also in the final phase of the MOE’s Management Course. My work with the Kaieteur News does not, I repeat, does not interfere with my duties as a teacher, but if this officer wants to prove it in a court of law, then we can do it her way.

She allegedly told the media, too that she spoke with me and gave me a choice, to work for KN or to teach with the government. Let me say this, she never spoke those words to me. Many teachers in Region Six have been oppressed and intimidated by this individual. Every single day I listen to stories of how teachers have been suffering just because this individual has held back their salaries, spoken to them harshly, or just was plain mean and rude to them. It is time that this season of oppression comes to an end.

Furniture to schools was supposed to be delivered during the holidays. Why were there problems on the first day of school? This should not have happened if this education officer and her cabal of officers were serious about their jobs. I urge the Honorable Minister of Education to seriously understand the entire context of what is happening here. The results are there for the entire Guyana and Berbice to see. The teachers of Berbice are fully behind me, but they, too are afraid to come out and say it openly lest they suffer the same fate as I am facing now.

It was because I have the best interest of my children at heart that I tried to get the public’s attention of furniture shortage at the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School. What is so wrong about that, officer? But I know what this is all about. This person has an image to project to the public and she just would not accept that she and her office could have delivered some more furniture to schools in a timelier manner before school had reopened.

How then can we challenge our leaders and superiors without them not retaliating with vengeance and victimization? Am I missing something here? Isn’t this what democracy is all about?

Leon Suseran
Assistant Master, (HOD) ag,
Vryman’s Erven Secondary

Source

No move to fix Golden Grove school – protest shifts to OP
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Parents and students of the Golden Grove Secondary School, aggrieved at the failure by authorities to address the deplorable conditions at the school, are today taking their protest in front of Office of the President. Parent Teachers Association (PTA) President David Gentle said they hoped the protest will result in much needed relief at the dilapidated East Coast Demerara school.

In a telephone interview, Gentle expressed disbelief and disappointment that the regional council officials made no effort to begin repairing the school during the weekend. “They promised that they would fix the school over the weekend and up to today nothing. We are currently preparing a letter to take to Office of the President asking the President to get involved because our children are hurting” he said.

“This isn’t right if it was at any other school repairs would have been done long time; seems like Golden Grove is forgotten.” On September 5, the first day of the new school term, parents and students mounted a protest against the shoddy conditions of the school. They cited lack of furniture, poor infrastructure and lack of potable water supply as the reason for their protest. They had met regional officials last Thursday and crafted an action plan to close the school on Friday to allow for repairs that would have been carried out during the course of the weekend.

Source

The state of our schools
By STABROEK STAFF | EDITORIAL | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

It has become customary, at the start of the academic year, for the commencement of classes in some state-run schools to be delayed either on account of defective schoolhouses or a shortage of furniture. The trend has persisted for years. Some of the deficiencies, like unreliable water supply and washroom facilities that are health hazards have become open sores on the body of our education system. Teachers and children alike have come to accept these problems more-or-less as a way of life. Some children have spent their entire school lives in schoolhouses plagued by serious shortcomings.

Whatever claims the Ministry of Education may make to the contrary one has to question whether in fact there exists a coherent plan for the maintenance and upkeep of our school buildings and facilities in circumstances where schools are allowed to fall apart before our very eyes with remedial interventions being made only when they can no longer properly serve their purpose. And if, as appears to be the case, there is no structured regime for maintenance and repairs then that surely has to be seen as the root of the problem.

Parent protests over conditions in schools have grown more frequent in recent years. Some of the protests have been sufficiently militant to cause the immediate closure of the affected schools. The protests are a sign that some parents are no longer prepared to have their children subjected to conditions that compromise both their physical health and their intellectual well-being. The Ministry of Education, understandably, finds the protests discomfiting. It would much prefer that the shortcomings in schools not attract the media attention that derives from the protests. That way it can respond to the problems in its own time or in some cases, at least so it seems, simply pretend that the problems do not exist.

Whether the Ministry is interpreting the significance of the protests correctly is difficult to say. The recent protest at the Golden Grove Secondary School, for example, was an assertion of parent power that appeared designed to elicit action beyond the routine promises that something would be done. Last week’s meeting between the Golden Grove parents and regional education officials may be a significant development. The fact that a parent protest has actually yielded the result of forcing the Ministry of Education to sit down with the parents would have been noted by other parents whose children attend schools where other problems exist. What happens in the Golden Grove instance may well set an important precedent.

The problems at Golden Grove did not materialize overnight and the posture of the parents derives from a collective conclusion that enough is enough. Here again the point has to be made that the problems at Golden Grove must be seen in the context of the absence of a wider schools maintenance regimen that guards against the eventuality of schoolhouses literally falling apart before interventions are made; and even in the altogether unacceptable absence of such a system one wonders whether the necessary remedial work to the school could not have been addressed before the start of the academic year. The Ministry of Education is not likely to admit that a planned and sustained programme for the maintenance of schools does not exist. To do so would be to concede an unacceptable level of managerial incompetence on its part. We do not, however, require the Ministry’s admission. The Golden Grove case makes the point.

The customary approach of the Minister of Education to the management of his Ministry’s image is to regale us with carefully prepared statistics about examination results that often seek to put the best face on outcomes that are always not as praiseworthy as they might appear. This approach is designed to illuminate the quality of an education system that is really doing no more than moving along after a fashion. The Ministry never really talks seriously about the problems associated with conditions at schoolhouses, except, that is, in response to a direct question from the media; and when such questions are posed the Ministry never fails to trot out the now familiar response that the run-down, unsafe and unhealthy conditions in some schools have to do with the regional administration and not with his Ministry. That response remains unacceptable. Wherever the responsibility for repairs may lie, it is the Ministry of Education that has the ultimate responsibility for education delivery and it is to that Ministry that we must look to get answers to questions on the issue of safe schools.

It is true that the decentralization of responsibility for the physical maintenance of schools does not appear to have served our education system well. Whether or not matters as important as ensuring that our schools are properly equipped for education delivery should be left to the regional system which, in some notable cases, has become bogged down by bureaucracy, sloth, inefficiency and politics is, to say the least debatable; and why should Regional Education Officers be reduced to begging and pleading with regional public servants to fix leaking roofs, provide proper toilet facilities and repair stairways that are on the verge of collapse? Surely there are other professional matters pertaining to the delivery of education that demand their attention.

If the mechanisms that ought to enable effective coordination between the regional administration and the Ministry of Education to ensure the proper maintenance of schools are not working well that is the Minister’s problem. It is for him to resort to Cabinet or to his colleague under whose portfolio the regional system falls in order to clear the logjam. The excuse of sloth and bureaucracy on the part of the regional administration is a reflection of the Minister’s failure to effectively address a problem that is seriously affecting a critical aspect of his own portfolio.

In the matter of the absence of a planned and sustained maintenance regime that ensures that schools are kept in the best possible order, the problems are not confined to a lack of timely maintenance. They include issues that range from unreliable security arrangements for school buildings to the use of school premises for public functions the nature of which sometimes renders schools vulnerable to abuse, theft and vandalism. So that apart from the problems associated with the absence of a reliable maintenance regime there is also the issue of protecting schools against theft and vandalism. Again, one wonders whether the Ministry has given any serious consideration to the role that theft and vandalism plays in the state of some of our schools.

Education Ministry officials have openly criticized what they say are corrupt practices that allow security firms to be paid for services which they frequently do not provide. They have pointed out too that some schools have no security whatsoever, which means that at nights, on weekends and during the holiday periods, they are at the mercy of vandals and vagrants. This surely has to change as part of the broader solution to the problem.

The Golden Grove Secondary School problem repeats itself elsewhere. At the start of the academic year entire classes at St Pius Primary School had to be shifted to another schoolhouse – most likely to the inconvenience of the host school – in order to allow for badly-needed repairs at St. Pius. Here again is a case in which a school building appears to have been allowed to fall into a state of considerable disrepair before action is taken at a cost in inconvenience to both students and teachers; and if, as we are told is the case with St. Pius, the current works include extensions to take account of the increase in the school population, that too ought to be factored in to the kind of forward planning which the technocrats in the Ministry are expected to do. Is any such forward planning being done in the Education Ministry or is it just a matter of applying a fire-fighting approach to what is in fact a complex and ongoing problem?

Furniture availability is another common problem in several of our schools. Here, it appears that at least part of the problem is one of ineffective management since in one case that occurred at the start of the current school year we were told that the problem had nothing to do with the actual availability of furniture but with the absence of a truck to transport the furniture to the school. To have children sit three or four to a bench built to accommodate two and to place their books in their laps in order to write when the only excuse for the absence of furniture is the unavailability of transportation is, to say the least, an absurd circumstance.

One need hardly extend the discourse into the litany of other problems associated with the proper maintenance of schools and which the school populations will have to continue to ensure. Those that do not come to public attention have to do with recognition on the parts of some Heads of schools that complaining changes little even though we must wait to see whether the Golden Grove development might set some sort of worthwhile precedent.

Interestingly, the failings of our education system are rarely if ever linked to the unacceptable conditions in which education delivery sometimes occurs even though there are studies that have been done elsewhere on the nexus between the learning environment and success rate. Perhaps the reluctance of the Ministry of Education to countenance this reality has to do with a concern that to do so would be to become more aware of its own limitations.

Source

Don’t escape the reality
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER EDITORIAL

The Berbice Education District is making a lot of noise over reports that many schools experienced a shortage of furniture at the start of the new school year. Indeed some children were discomfited and took to using window ledges, the sides of desks and other innovative methods to complete whatever tasks they were assigned in the classroom.

Generally, during the holidays the Ministry of Education would rent schools for functions. Sometimes sections of the auditorium would be used for weddings and concerts and other social events. Guyanese are not known to be the most responsible people, especially those whose moral values leave a lot to be desired. In many other places, the people who rent the facility are asked to pay a fee that would compensate for the damage to any property. At the end of a function there is some official who would supervise the return of the property and not any damage.
furniture being packed away in such a manner that they were destroyed. Whatever the case, there should have been an inventory before the first day of school. There was a rule that teachers visit schools at least a week before the opening. These teachers would have gone there to meet with the new students they would have noted any shortage of furniture and would have made the necessary requisitions.

For its part, the Education Ministry would have already commissioned furniture from the various suppliers. The teachers would provide their lists and by the time the schools would have reopened everything would have been in place. But these systems are not in place because the
We do not want to believe that those schools in Berbice that experienced the furniture shortage were rented out. It may have been a case of teachers believe that they are the ones who have been granted the holidays. Even holiday programmes organized by the Ministry are largely ignored. This time around, the Ministry announced that it was going to sponsor a series of remedial classes during the holidays. This was treated as extra work and the teachers had to be paid extra.

The remarkable thing about this is that the administrators in Berbice became angry at the disclosure that there was a shortage of furniture. It was as if this was a state secret and that the disclosure was a threat to national security. Once the story got out there was a concerted effort by the regional administration to sanction the messenger. There is also a move to have him removed as a teacher. The amazing thing is that the messenger used photographs to good effect to support his contention that indeed there was a shortage of furniture in some of the schools when schools reopened.

There is another consideration. Classrooms are getting larger. The student population is increasing because there is a studied policy that all must have access to education. At the primary level parents are encouraged to send their children to school because there is always the threat of prosecution. At the secondary level, where this problem was most visible an increasing number of children now access secondary education either through established secondary schools or at primary tops — that section of the school that goes beyond the National Assessment examination.

The situation would have been worse had teachers been allowed to retain those poor performing students. The Education Ministry now talks about a policy that speaks of ‘No child left behind’. The furniture situation and the growing population at the secondary level must have prompted this ‘no child left behind policy.’ Whatever the case a simple administrative assessment would have seen the need to ensure that more furniture would be in the school. The situation seems to have been regularized. There have been no more reports of an absence of furniture.

What is worrying is the fact that the system has expanded its programme but it seems to have been paying little attention to the infrastructure. It is also failing to recognize that larger classrooms led to greater failures since teachers cannot pay attention to those students who need it more. The complaint about the furniture is just one aspect of a shortcoming in the education system.

Source

Education ministry, region probing alleged sexual abuse of Aishalton students - teachers, village officials implicated
By STABROEK STAFF | LOCAL | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

An investigation has been launched into complaints by residents of Aishalton, in Region Nine, about the sexual abuse of students of the secondary school there by teachers and village officials.

One letter, sent in June by Aishalton residents to the Regional Executive Officer (REO) and the Regional Education Officer (ReDO), referred to complaints “within the past several months” made by the parents of a 13-year-old student of the Aishalton Secondary School to the matron at the school’s dormitory and the district education officer’s office, after the girl was sexually assaulted by two senior male teachers at the secondary school. The letter was not signed by residents out of fear of being of victimised.

However, an official at the education ministry in the city admitted that the unit had received similar correspondences, which are being investigated, “since they contained several serious allegations.” According to the letter sent in June, “the child only decided to talk because other classmates caught the teacher in the act after school hours.” It added that residents were afraid to approach senior persons in the community, since they believed that the confidentiality would have been breached.

The letter also stated that a senior village leader invited several boys to his home earlier this year and offered them “marijuana in return for sex.” The boys later went and related their encounter to their parents who became worried. Some time after a similar incident occurred, in which a young lady, said to be 14 years old, was approached by the village leader to sleep with him in exchange for an electrical device and free goods from a shop which the man operated.

According to the letter, the district education officer was told of the allegations and she promised residents to investigate the issue but more than three months have passed and nothing has been done. Attempts to contact the Region Nine REO, Ronald Harsawack, on the issue yesterday were unsuccessful.

However, an official at the regional administration office in Lethem said that the office had received similar correspondences from the South Rupununi community and they were being investigated. The official said that while some of the letters were anonymous, it was out of concern that the authorities decided to investigate the matter, since similar complaints were made against the officials in question in the past.

Source

my goodness i dont know where this chap gerald does find the time to dig up all this thing.

Dem chap this like bees dem all over the place showing up wherever we mek a lil mistake and overlook something.

This is not fair gerald any government would have widespread failure like this.

Look baseman mind yuh business dont get between me and gerald.

Gerald is in space he is not in guyana.

The Districts and Villages that cannot care and upkeep their Schools will have to deal with the deplorable conditions. Govt dont have money to keep fixing and repairing Schools because Uncivilised People are destroying them.

quote:

Originally posted by Nehru:
The Districts and Villages that cannot care and upkeep their Schools will have to deal with the deplorable conditions. Govt dont have money to keep fixing and repairing Schools because Uncivilised People are destroying them.

How could they, it's being stolen and siphoned off to fund villas and exotic lifestyles. So no money to pay workers, no money to clean schools, parents must partially fund schooling. But there is money to find a Chinese laptop program. Bai you guys are a big joke.

Deplorable conditions at Golden Grove Secondary … Parents take protest action to OP
SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 | BY KNEWS | FILED UNDER NEWS

Having not received satisfaction, parents who protested the deplorable conditions of the Golden Grove Secondary School at the commencement of the school term earlier this month, yesterday shifted their protest action to the Office of the President. However, police barricaded the area in the immediate vicinity, and the protestors were moved to the junction of Regent Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive. Some of the placards read; “Minister Baksh our school is in bad bad shape,” “Region four educational department is toothless,” “We need a new school,” “Mr Baksh less talk we need action now,” and “Save limbs and lives now.”


The protest near the Office of the President yesterday

Representatives of the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) two weeks ago met with regional officials to discuss the physical conditions of the school and were given the assurances that their concerns would be addressed. However, this was not the case. According to the PTA Chairman David Gentle, there are 639 students attending the Golden Grove Secondary, and after the first protest – at the beginning of the school term – parents visited the regional office where they spoke to the chairman and the Regional Education Officer, and were promised that immediate action would have been taken.

“This is the third week we in and there is nothing being done. Recently the rain started to fall again and the children had to shelter with umbrella and another student tell me he had to duck under the desk. All this happened while in the school building!” Gentle said emphatically.
The PTA chairman recommended that a structural engineer be sent to the school to test its “soundness” “Walking or running in it is worse…that whole building is shaking.” Adding that all the columns holding up the school have deteriorated, Gentle said the steel in the columns are clearly exposed with the rust and fragility evident.

Noting that he was shocked by electricity in the building, Gentle said other parents experienced the same electrical shock while they were at a meeting. When asked to list some of the major problems facing the school at present, Gentle mentioned the leaking roof, deteriorating columns, shaky stairway, and appalling washrooms. Other disgruntled parents said that although they need their children to attend classes, they would also appreciate the closure of the school for it to be renovated so their children’s lives would not be placed in danger.

“There must be some place to accommodate the children until the school is fixed…we need the school to close down,” one female parent said.
Another noted that the commencement of the school term saw 16 benches and 13 desks being provided, however, “I was there when they said they would have sent 50 but it wasn’t 50, when you look into the classes a small bench got three children squeezing up together.” Parents collectively agreed that children are made to sit in classrooms which are not conducive for learning, since classrooms lack furniture and other basic necessities.
“They don’t have good toilet facilities or good windows to protect the children from the elements.”

According to a letter signed by 26 parents, “the Regional Chairman visited without his technical officers. Since our requests were not met we are here today to further reinforce our demands…We are of the opinion that a new school is needed with all the facilities in keeping with modern day trends. Therefore Mr. Minister we urge that the school be closed urgently so as to save time and life.” However, yesterday the parents visited the Ministry of Education to meet with officials pertaining to the issue.

According to Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh, he is concerned that the Region Four administration had not carried out critical renovation works at Golden Grove Secondary. However, to date, rehabilitation works have not yet commenced. A few frustrated members of the PTA on Tuesday met with Minister Baksh to chart the way forward. The minister promised to discuss the matter with Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker and do all within his powers to remedy the problem.

The Minister revealed that a Ministry team will visit the school today to assess the situation and facilitate a resolution to the problem. The team will look at issues regarding furniture, as well as the state of the building, and convene a meeting with parents on the way forward. He said that the Ministry will continue to provide support to the regions in their planned repairs and maintenance programmes while recognising that they have direct responsibility for these functions in keeping with the decentralised system of education.

Source