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??Minister of Education, Ronald Jones, in conversation with students(from left), Adela Payne and Shekelia Small, winners of their school’s??singing competition, while Principal Diana Wilson looks on. (A. Miller/BGIS)

The problem of some deteriorating school plants across the island will soon be addressed by government.

This was promised today by Minister of Education, Ronald Jones, as he spoke to teachers and students at the morning assembly at the Lester Vaughan School, Cane Garden, St. Thomas.

Responding to Chairman of the Board, Edward Tull, who had earlier noted that the 15-year old plant was showing signs of disrepair as well as some environmental challenges, Mr. Jones said: "This plant is among so many other plants in the education sector that are beginning to show substantial wear and tear.

"Over the next five or six years we will be doing major work in some of the plants. Some of them have to be taken down completely, particularly at the primary level."

He further stated: "We have identified, I believe, some 13 primary schools, most of them have to be demolished because you just can’t keep spending a hundred thousand, or two hundred thousand dollars on a decaying plant… that is what happens to school plants from time to time.

"We also have to construct a new secondary school. We have identified the location for that. We know what we want to do with that. We have to get the plans drawn and go through all of the work… Some of our schools have quite large numbers. We believe that the optimum size of a school shouldn’t go pass 800 or 850."

Students were also told that they had a role to play in ensuring that their school buildings were preserved. The Minister urged them not to litter and to exercise self-discipline at all times.

He said; "You must treat where you go to school just as good or even better than you treat your home."

joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

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