While secondary school administrators prepare for a temporary reopening on June 8 to accommodate CSEC and CAPE students, calls are being made for the government to make infrastructure changes to schools for the new school year. The call was made by Opposition Senator Wentworth Skeffrey at a special sitting of the Senate on Thursday, he says schools are in need of more resources, especially where furniture is concerned.
“You have to use the summer period to build out the new infrastructure, to create way for the new normal,” says Skeffrey. “Many of us don’t even understand how the infrastructure is arranged in our schools. Many of the schools have the chairs welded to each other. They hardly can move. Little or no space between each.”
Over the years, there have been discussions surrounding the state of furniture in schools, with many short of desks and chairs, while existing furniture is badly in need of repair. The Opposition Senator says many schools face this issue and the government needs to address it.
“Let’s understand that even before Covid, many schools had a problem when it comes to furniture – chairs and desks. That is the current reality prior to covid,” Skeffrey explains. “If you are going to have greater space, you have to retire some of those chairs and desk. You are going to need more space for the challenges.”
The Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Karl Samuda had indicated at this week’s siiting of the House of Representatives that plans were underway to prepare a safer school environment for students. However, there has been no report of any new furniture being brought into schools or any plans by the ministry to address this issue.
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