[dropcap]M[/dropcap]inistry of Education representatives spoke this week about short- and long-term solutions to the Beanefield dilemma. But most of them remain undecided. Michelle Charles, the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, says that the ministry will utilize the Vieux Fort Primary School to help transition the 60 incoming Form-One students in September. “The students are initially going to be held at the Vieux Fort Primary School and we are going to be taking the necessary steps to ensure we address the capacity issue at Beanefield Comprehensive School during the course of the year,” she said.
The primary school building is only meant to be a temporary solution for the month of September and perhaps October as well. According to Charles, the ministry is working on more sustainable solutions. “During the course of the year, there are a number of discussions in terms of building an additional block for the Beanefield Comprehensive School,” she advised. “We are looking at all of the various options that have been presented to us to make a final decision.” The ministry has not made any commitments to the construction process.
Vieux Fort Primary School has had its share of problems that must be resolved. In order for the school to serve as a learning facility, the ministry still has work to do before the beginning of the school year.
“There are some constraints at the primary school and these are going to be remedied before September,” assured Charles.
This seems to be just one of the many examples of schools that the ministry needs to tend to before students pack their backpacks for the fall semester. Minister Gale Rigobert admits the ministry is “off to a late start” on refurbishing schools for the new year and that the schools will be worked on by way of priority.
“Those things that we cannot deliver in the next couple of weeks before the opening of school, we will endeavour to do during the Christmas break, depending on level of urgency,” said Rigobert.
