Parents hope Imbert budgets $$ for new St Dominic’s RC school

With Minister of Finance Colm Imbert announcing September 30 as Budget Day, the Parent-Teachers Council (PTC) of St Dominic’s RC Primary School is urging him to allocate funds to rebuild their school.

The school building was structurally damaged by an earthquake, leading the Ministry of Education (MoE) to move students and staff to the Penal Community Centre and St Dominic’s RC Church in 2017.

Standard One to Five pupils attend classes at the community centre, while the infants, at the church’s Parish Hall. Now, seven years later, parents are frustrated with the temporary setup and what they called, the unfulfilled promise of a new school that provides a proper learning environment.

There have been repeated demonstrations by parents for a new school.

During a peaceful protest outside the community centre, PTC President Sharon Baptiste highlighted the issues, such as a lack of toilets, water, and faulty air conditioning.

“They always say it is a problem with financing. As we know, the budget is coming up. We would like our school to be on the list this time. We do not want to be left behind. It is time that we take a stand to let the Government and the ministry know that we are serious,” Baptiste said.

She also raised security concerns, pointing out that the centre hosts an ALTA class during school hours, and officials do not keep track of who is present.

Baptiste mentioned that the MoE promised a new school years ago, and St Dominic’s was supposed to be second on the priority list. However, they were later bumped off. During that time, parents have seen several other schools built and opened, which she found frustrating.

“It is very unfortunate for some parents who have to go back and forth to pick up their children from the Parish Hall and the community centre. If all our children were housed in one area, it would be even better, but we want a new school,” she said.

Some parents are even considering transferring their children. The PTC claimed 40 pupils have already left.

Another parent, Mary Baptiste, added that many community activities have been disrupted because of the classes being held at the community centre. Previously, the centre hosted programmes like Best Village, continuing education, and development initiatives, but these have been halted.

T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) President Martin Lum Kin joined the protest, saying that the poor conditions also affect teachers. Lum Kin urged the Catholic Education Board of Management to push the MoE to prioritise rebuilding the school.

“What we are doing here is putting plasters on sores. I imagine they have spent millions of dollars, if not hundreds of thousands, to retrofit and make repairs when needed, and that money could have gone towards building a new school,” Lum Kin said.

He also stated that TTUTA would not allow its members to continue working under such conditions and would soon advise them on the best action.

‘MoE steadily addressing issues’

Responding to a query from Guardian Media, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said the MoE aims to return displaced students to their schools as much as possible each year, depending on available funding. Gadsby-Dolly confirmed that all schools, whether in temporary locations or not, receive regular school funding.

She reiterated that rebuilding St Dominic’s RC is a priority, and it will be done as soon as funds become available.

The minister added that Marabella Anglican Boys’ and Girls’ Primary School, as well as Sister’s Road Anglican Primary, which were previously in temporary locations, received new buildings and returned to their original sites this academic year. San Juan Boys’ and Girls’ Government School were relocated to a new building last academic year.

“The MoE is steadily addressing the reconstruction and relocation of such schools,” Gadsby-Dolly said.