By Lara Pickford-Gordon Tuesday, August 18 2009

With some primary schools reeling from high electricity bills, the Association of Denominational Boards is awaiting word from the TT Electricity Commission (TTEC) and Education Ministry regarding recommendations which have been proposed to cover the costs.

Public relations officer for the association Sat Maharaj yesterday said members brought their electricity bills to a meeting six weeks ago showing the increases.

The increase has been linked to TTEC revising its rates and the introduction of “electrical teaching tools” such as computer laboratories.

In addition, he said some schools have introduced security lights and electrical surveillance with no assistance from the ministry.

Maharaj said the association has asked the ministry to cover the water and electricity costs since it was already absorbing the total cost for the building and refurbishment of schools. “We are asking they go the full way because the electricity charges in the schools are phenomenal.”

He said the maintenance grant provided to schools was inadequate for electricity and other costs.

TTEC has also been approached by members of the association to review its grading system so schools are not charged at commercial rates. “They agreed to look at it,” Maharaj said.

With schools opening in two weeks he anticipated increasing costs.

Rural and poorer primary schools will be “hard pressed” to pay outstanding money owed to TTEC, said chairman of the Catholic Education Board of Management (CEBM) Hazel Reis yesterday. Some schools have been disconnected because they were in arrears to the electricity company.

Reis said the utility bills of secondary denominational schools were paid by the Education Ministry and these schools were also in a better position to raise funds. She said primary schools were hardest hit.

An editorial in last weekend’s Catholic News indicated CEBM was indebted to the Archdiocesan Chancery to pay more than $1 million in electricity bills.

It reported that 93 of the CEBM’s 119 schools were owing sums ranging from $850 to $34,000. The CEBM cannot afford to pay its debts and has asked schools in arrears to meet to clear their debt with TTEC.