Pupils and parents from the Preysal Government Primary School yesterday braved inclement weather during a placard protest outside the school compound.
Four days ago the school was closed after the sewer system ruptured causing an unbearable stink.
Several pupils complained of feeling unwell and teachers, after consultation with the T&T Unified Teachers Association, walked off the job last Monday.
Since then the school has remained closed.
In an interview yesterday, parent Michelle Subit said it was dangerous for staff and students to remain on the premises. She said since the school’s construction next door was abandoned in September 2015, the incomplete structure has been invaded with snakes, rats, centipedes and other vermin.
“This year the school spent $40,000 on rat poison because we were afraid that the students will get leptospirosis. Now the school has no more rats but the snakes have nothing to eat so they are entering the school where the children have classes. Last week we found three big snakes in the classrooms,” Subit said.
She said in June last year, the sewer system ruptured and students were unable to write their end of term exams.
“Back then school was closed for two weeks and the Ministry fixed the problem over the vacation period but the sewer was continuing to smell,” Subit said.
Saying the classrooms were hot and uncomfortable for the 360 pupils, Subit called on Garcia to feel empathise with the pupils and bring some relief. Subit said the children had no proper place to play because the construction zone made the school a hazard.
“Parents have now taken a decision not to send their children to school until the problems were rectified,” Subit said.
Meanwhile, MP for Caroni Central Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie said he had arranged on several occasions to clean the premises.
“Because there have been no construction on the site for the past two years, it has become very overgrown. From time to time, I’ve had the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation cut the bushes but it keeps getting overgrown. It is unsafe and a hazard to the children. It is breeding rats and snakes which crawl into the school. The Minister of Education should treat this matter as a priority and put the children first,” Tewarie said.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, Garcia said he had instructed the Educational Facilities Company Ltd to visit the school and carry out repairs so classes can resume. He said the sewer problems were rectified last May but had persisted.
Garcia said the construction of the new school was not budgeted for this fiscal year but he assured that it will be completed in the next fiscal year. The school is said to be 40 per cent complete.
