TTUTA: 20 schools affected by infrastructural issues

RADHICA DE SILVA

Despite over 20 schools facing major infrastructural challenges, the president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association Martin Lum Kin has denied that instructions were given for teachers to stay home.

But in an interview yesterday, Lum Kin said TTUTA remains very concerned about the deplorable conditions at many schools.

“TTUTA does not instruct teachers to stay away from school. As far as possible, TTUTA will ask occupants to assess the situation,” he revealed.

In cases where there is a clear danger to health and safety, Lum Kin said teachers can invoke their right of refusal to work.

“Where lives and limbs are affected or a possible threat to staff and students, educators can invoke a refusal to work. However, the refusal to work process must be clearly stated and done properly,” Lum Kin revealed.

Identifying the deplorable school conditions since the start of the new school year, Lum Kin said a lack of furniture was a major problem at many schools.

Guardian Media was informed by TTUTA that at the Couva East Secondary School, power outages disrupted classes on Thursday.

At San Fernando Central, shifting land compromised a classroom block that houses specialist areas. TTUTA said that no work was done at the Palmiste Government Primary which was damaged by a fire in 2023. The school is currently being housed at the Longdenville Government Primary and the Edinburgh Community Centre.

TTUTA, which generated a list of the numerous schools with issues, said the Preysal Government Primary is also facing challenges, as the school is temporarily housed at a community centre due to structural problems at its original location.

The association said Pointe-a-Pierre Special School was affected by bat droppings, while St Dominic’s RC has been sharing facilities with adult literacy classes at a community centre, making it difficult to accommodate both students and adult learners in the same space.

At the Lady Hochoy School in Gasparillo, the lack of adequate bathroom facilities, insufficient space for special needs students, poor lighting, and lack of maintenance were also highlighted by TTUTA.

Earlier this week, parents of students attending Mayaro Secondary protested the lack of desks and chairs but since then some furniture has been brought into the school.

At Santa Cruz Presbyterian, bat droppings have raised serious health concerns, while La Veronica RC in Lopinot has been grappling with electrical issues that have left the school compound without power, according to the teachers’ union.

TTUTA said St George’s College also faced a furniture shortage and incomplete repairs.

The association noted that Five Rivers Secondary is dealing with leaking roofs in both classroom and administrative blocks, while Mt Hope Secondary and St Joseph Secondary were both facing severe infrastructural issues.

Palmyra Hindu is currently addressing a rat infestation, while Marabella Boys’ and Girls’ AC (Holy Cross AC) is yet to receive furniture for the new building.

TTUTA said both Manzanilla Secondary and Salazar Trace Government Primary are dealing with suspected sewer problems while Sangre Grande Government Primary is facing plumbing issues and loose ceilings that pose a hazard to students and staff.

In Tobago, Roxborough Secondary also has a shortage of furniture, while Holy Faith Convent in Penal is operating on a shift system due to infrastructural problems and a lack of furniture.

Contacted for comment, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said a School Upgrade Programme will have to be undertaken, maybe in phases, to upgrade schools to the standard where preventative maintenance can be the norm.

“Given the age of schools, we will soon have little choice in the matter,” she revealed.

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