They hope that the ministry will provide funding for the team to go to a football tournament in Barbados.
Coach Cedric Hazelwood said he has been in talks with ministry officials for three months to fund the children's trip to the tournament.
The coach had been told that everything was in progress to get the children to the tournament.
Parents provided their own funding for food and other expenses and arranged passports.
But Hazelwood received a call that shattered the dreams of more than half of the athletes. He was told the ministry was only prepared to send 20 children to Barbados.
Faced with the decision of having to tell 60 children they would not be able to participate, Hazelwood informed parents and they all decided to go to the ministry to discuss the matter further.
From as early as 8 am, the 80 children sat on the sidewalk in front of the ministry, weighted by luggage but buoyed by hope, waiting.
"They told us up to yesterday that everything was fine. How could they tell us that yesterday and then tell us we have to choose 20 children to go? How do we choose 20 children?" asked one parent, Marcia Charles.
Hazelwood is meeting with ministry officials to try to salvage the situation.
