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CCNTV6
  • 1 year ago
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association Martin Lum Kin says, there is still much work to be done on all schools in Trinidad and Tobago.
Transcript
00:00$10 million was spent to refurbish St. George's College, yet still, there are a lot of work
00:06to be done at the school.
00:08The president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association, Martin Lumpkin, tells
00:13us climate change is posing a new problem for St. George's College and other schools
00:18throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
00:20He said apart from the recent flooding and rodent issue, the other major problem is a
00:24lack of proper ventilation.
00:27As you know, with the high temperatures, and throughout Trinidad and Tobago, we have schools
00:31with that challenge.
00:32But with St. George's College, it is perennial, and it is really bad at this time.
00:40And the labs are not prepared.
00:44The labs are not fit for occupation at this time.
00:48The tutor president believes the Ministry of Education's Adopt-a-School program can
00:52help address some of the issues schools across TNT are facing.
00:57The Ministry would have spoken about the Adopt-a-School, and we're really hoping that
01:01that program can help to address.
01:04Because if you are going to install cooling units, now fans will just blow hot air.
01:09They can, you know, be a short term, but in the long term, we believe that classes need
01:15to be air-conditioned.
01:16And if you do that, then you have a subsequent problem with electrical upgrades, which will
01:23take a lot of money.
01:24But the Ministry of Education has to take the forefront in this opportunity, and the
01:29opportunity to take, you know, the lead in it, and to probably engage in stakeholders,
01:34hospitals, et cetera, et cetera.
01:36And commenting on the Mount Hoop Secondary School, Mr. Lumpkin said the situation there
01:41has gotten worse.
01:43He added, the staff is refusing to work because of the issues that they face daily.
01:48They have experienced even worse because there was a, in one of the blocks, the concrete,
01:56a piece of concrete fell.
01:58And so they continue to have the issue.
02:01One of the teachers in putting on the light switch in part of the staff room got a shock
02:07as well.
02:08A teacher was bitten by a wasp, I believe it is.
02:14Some of these students have continued to experience some medical challenges as well, too.
02:20Lumpkin said his association is willing to work with the Ministry of Education to ensure
02:25all students and staff are safer during school hours.
02:29Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
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