It's been almost one month since Excel Beetham Estate Government Primary School has been without electricity, causing pupils to be sent home daily by 11:30 am.
Tuesday, with the S.E.A. exam on the horizon, set to take place in March , parents finally had enough and a few expressed their frustration in front of the school, suggesting that they will resort to more disruptive action if the problem is not resolved. Here's more in this report.
00:00 With their children's education on the line, parents of students of Excel Government Primary School
00:06 are pleading with the Ministry of Education to resolve the ongoing electricity problems at the school.
00:12 We've been pleading, we've been begging. It's not for me or even for you, it's for the future of our children. Please!
00:22 We're asking, we're begging. You see we're not demanding, but we're asking and we're begging for this to be assessed one time.
00:31 The parents say since TNTEC's initial visit, nothing has been done.
00:36 The school, the teachers, they reported to the Ministry, they reported to Helpment, TNTEC, and they came in the first week and they said, well, the problem's been resolved.
00:48 They said that something blew out that had to fix from over 11 years ago. Mind you, great is the PNM and great is the system.
00:56 11 years ago, hence now, they send the school out the way over and it would have taken a week to do.
01:01 So from that week in January to now, nothing has been done. Nothing has been done, no update.
01:09 And after putting up with the issue since January 11th, they're now threatening to take more disruptive action if the problem is not resolved.
01:18 Please help us resolve this situation because as you all know, we could take matters into our own hands.
01:27 We choose not to because we have to set an example too. But it could get serious because this is a given over to...
01:36 It could get serious enough that we will overpass that month and do what we were supposed to do from the start.
01:43 We will block the roads and everybody will be uncomfortable if we turn and get a proper education.
01:49 Fix this school! Fix our school! Fix our school!
01:54 In response, the Education Minister gave the assurance that the problem is being addressed with the assistance of TNTEC.
02:01 She explained that the period of repair was protracted due to the nature of the repair work required.
02:07 But she said an electrical inspection was scheduled for today and the full resumption of electrical services should follow in short order.
Be the first to comment