By DARCEL CHOY Tuesday, September 11 2012

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Students of Febeau Govt Primary on their first day of school at arented building in Tunapuna last Monday....

Parents and teachers from several schools across the country are becoming more concerned as the new term progresses and students lose valuable class time because of a lack of school repairs.

Last week, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) identified 33 schools that did not open last week Monday because of several infrastructural issues.

Students attending Palo Seco Secondary and Malabar Government Primary are at home until their infrastructural needs can be addressed. While students attending the Diego Martin North Secondary have classes two days a week, and have been placed on a rotation schedule.

National Parent Teachers’ Association President (NPTA) Zena Ramatali said it was not fair to students.

“How will they make up for time lost, we are very concerned. These children will be losing out on teaching time and we will really like to hear what the ministry’s plans are for those children who are at home,” she said.

She said she sent a letter to the ministry last Friday requesting a meeting with Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh to discuss the problems, and she is waiting for a response.

Meanwhile, parents at the Crystal Stream Government Primary in Petit Valley are hoping things will improve at the school which was closed for a few days last week to first year and second year students. The building was closed to be sanitised after flood waters invaded the school a month ago.

One parent who did not want to give her name said the classes were cleaned, but they were awaiting new furniture.

“We were told it was supposed to be in the school this week, hopefully it arrives so our children could return to a normal school life,” she said.

Meanwhile, at Febeau Government Primary, teachers returned to work yesterday after staying away from classes due to a faulty air-conditioning unit. The unit remained dysfunctional, but another problem arose yesterday as they discovered a leaking roof over the classrooms. Teachers said they will continue to attend the school, but continued to demand that the ministry attend to the school’s needs.