The Association of Public Primary School Principals (APPSP) has chastised the Ministry of Education for its failure to adequately address ongoing environmental and security problems at schools.
In a sharp rebuke, the group’s president, Olwin Walker, accused the ministry of disregarding reports from principals and only acting when issues were publicly raised by the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT).
Her comments come as the BUT and the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) expressed hope that the new school year would not be marred by environmental disruptions while urging the ministry to improve its response time to environmental and security concerns.
Walker told Barbados TODAY that despite consistent reports sent by principals regarding environmental concerns, the ministry has been slow to respond. She insisted that the claims of ministry officials being unaware of these problems were misleading and unfairly portrayed school leaders as neglecting their duties.
“Principals are expected to record environmental issues. Every single principal in this country has to complete something called a Form J; it is an official document. You have to put in what the challenges of the school are. Year after year, it is the same thing,” Walker said, referencing recent media attention on environmental issues at Ann Hill School, St John’s Primary, and other schools.
“All of those issues were reported before. Every single school that has some kind of environmental issue, it is already recorded. [The ministry] only responds when the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) takes action, when BUT publicises the issues and is constantly in the media, and that is when they act, which is very unfortunate.”
Walker expressed frustration at the ministry’s lack of action, highlighting that school principals have been diligent in reporting critical problems, including sewage leaks, mould, and unsafe building conditions, which have gone unaddressed for too long.
“You [the ministry] show disrespect and disregard for the word of the principal who is the leader of the school, who has alerted you and said, ‘We have toilet problems, we have a horrible smell, we have rodents, we have mould, we have rotted partitions, we have windows that are not opening’ and [we get] no response,” Walker added, reiterating that any claims that the ministry was unaware of these problems were untrue.
She urged the Ministry of Education to trust the reports of principals and to act more swiftly when issues are brought to their attention, rather than waiting for public outcry.
“Principals need a level of respect, their word must be taken. When they send in reports, believe the reports. Don’t wait until the BUT takes action to then respond,” Walker said, noting that delays in response often exacerbate the issues.
Last year, environmental problems led to disruptions at several schools, including Ann Hill School, Luther Thorne Memorial Primary, The Lodge School, Gordon Walters Primary, St Bartholomew’s Primary, and Grantley Prescod Primary. St John’s Primary was forced to close permanently, with staff and students relocated to Mount Tabor Primary after serious health concerns, while Lester Vaughan School saw multiple instances of staff falling ill due to severe sewerage leaks.
In addition to environmental issues, Walker raised concerns about the ministry’s inadequate approach to school security. She recounted multiple security breaches at St Margaret’s Primary School, where unauthorised individuals entered the premises, one even blocking the principal’s door.
Similar incidents were reported at St Matthew’s, St Stephen’s, and West Terrace primary schools which still faced intrusions despite the presence of a security guard.
“This is a big issue,” Walker said. “We had a school where security was breached three times and nothing has been done at St Margaret’s Primary. A man walked off the street, straight through the gate and blocked the principal at the door. Another man with a gun ran tourists from in the area and the tourists found shelter at the school, and the third incident was with a parent.
“There was a breach at… West Terrace Primary School, even though that school has a security guard. People are walking onto the premises accosting teachers. This shows you security has to be properly looked at.”
The APPSP leader questioned whether one security guard is enough to protect schools, especially those with a roll of 600, and called for more robust measures to prevent future incidents.
“We cannot wait until drastic things happen at a school. They cannot wait until a child is injured or a teacher or a principal,” Walker warned, adding that many schools are inadequately protected, with broken fencing and insufficient security personnel.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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