00:00One of the schools of major concern for the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association is Mount Hope Secondary.
00:07Tutors President Martin Lumpkin says officials from the Education Ministry have recommended emergency works on that school,
00:14which is supposed to be in the second phase of the vacation repair program.
00:19We were told that in three of the four Form 3 classes, the ceiling has fallen down.
00:27And so they have to now find a way to relocate those students.
00:31He suspects that works will have to continue even as school is reopened.
00:37According to Lumpkin, complaints have also come in from St. Joseph Secondary and Aranguas North Secondary.
00:44We have schools that are incomplete. So you have Presell Government Primary School.
00:49When I passed there on a morning, I am deeply troubled to see the condition that the new building was left.
00:57And these occupants are languishing in a community center.
01:03Tutor states that Palmis Government Primary and Pinal RC schools are others facing a similar relocation predicament.
01:11And the Ministry of Education did admit at their press conference last week,
01:15over 50% of the primary schools have outlived their lifespan.
01:20Over 36% of secondary schools, ECCE 12%.
01:25This is to me an indictment on the Ministry of Education and by extension, the government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:32In this regard, TUJA has its own view on the reopening of schools.
01:36We are not as confident as the Honorable Minister of Education that all schools will be reopened.
01:43But then again, there have been instances where our principals, our administrators have been coerced into opening the schools,
01:53even though they would have indicated to the Ministry of Education that they have concerns about the infrastructure, health and safety.
02:02Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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