EDITORIAL - Taking care of our schools

Word is that all schools should be ready to reopen at the beginning of the new school year on Monday September 12. 

 

At least this was the expectation voiced by Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, at the close of August. 

 

According to the Barbados Government Information Service, the Minister noted then that repair works totalling 1.5 million dollars had been “reasonably successful” and a certain level of readiness would be established for the commencement of the coming academic year.

 

Renovations took place at Westbury Primary, Combermere, St. Matthews Primary, Holy Innocents Primary, St. Silas Primary, Ignatius Byer Primary, A. DaCosta Edwards Primary and St. Philip Primary. Having toured the eight schools, Jones said, “Not all schools are 100 per cent complete, but a majority of them are. We have about five or so schools that we will keep an eye on over the course of the next week, but we are assured that they should be ready”.

 

He added, “I am convinced that barring unforeseen circumstances, maybe weather, rain and things like that, we should [have] the children back in school.” Based on the words of the Minister, we can only hope that all goes well when school reopens next week.

 

That said, we as Barbadians should not have to wait solely on the Government of Barbados to have some work done on a school. Many of the school principals can take the ‘bull by the horns’ and initiate some kind of fund-raising drive to assist their schools.  Alumni associations and parent teacher associations (PTAs) can do more to enhance the island’s educational institutions as well.

 

School plants often require high levels of maintenance and this is where the private sector can lend a hand, by adopting a school or two and pledging greater support in assisting in upgrades. 

 

Some paint and a few changes to broken doors and windows can go a long way in making the infrastructure at some schools more appealing to the eye, and it can certainly help in enhancing the teaching and learning environment by making the school a more conducive place in which to do business.

 

There are many people and groups in Barbados that also utilise school facilities for various events – town hall meetings, branch meetings, dinners and social events etc. Some of these individuals and groups can also get together and encourage others to give back and ensure that the schools  which aid in serving them, benefit as well. Volunteers can work to upgrade the school, once the nod is given by principals and Ministry officials.

 

Only recently, a gentleman called in on a radio programme to highlight an issue of missing toilet seats at a school. He indicated that, had he heard about the need before, he would have dipped into his very own pockets to rectify the issue. 

 

The state of bathrooms at many of our primary and secondary schools leaves much to be desired. Maybe we need a team who can work on beautifying the bathrooms at some schools. Meanwhile, principals need to ensure that whereas the janitors do their jobs, the children also do their part to take care of the restrooms, rather than defacing them and placing graffiti on the walls. What’s supposed to go into the toilet should also not be on the walls. 

 

It is time we take pride in ourselves and in our educational institutions.