Three Barbadian primary schools, Ann Hill School, St. Paul’s Primary, and Luther Thorne Memorial Primary, have reopened as usual today after addressing environmental issues that raised concerns for the safety of students and staff.
The Ministry of Education, led by Minister Kay McConney, conducted inspections of the schools and worked to remedy any issues over the Christmas holiday. The inspections involved members of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Parent Teachers Associations, cleaning technicians, and other staff members.
Minister McConney emphasized the need for improved communication and collaboration between the ministry, unions, and schools to address concerns effectively. She noted that the mission of the ministry was to ensure that the learning institutions were ready for the start of the new term. McConney also acknowledged that some of the complaints were longstanding and that the ministry was working to address them.
Following the inspections, Julian Pierre, the Barbados Union of Teachers’ First Vice President, expressed satisfaction with the work done and assured that it would be “school as usual” at the Ann Hill School. He emphasized the union’s aim to act on behalf of its members and address their concerns.
The rehabilitation work and subsequent inspections aimed to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for students and a more collaborative approach to addressing school-related issues. As classes resume on Monday, Minister McConney noted that the focus will be on ensuring a smooth and productive start to the new term.
