Basic schools warned to shape up or face closure
ARGYLE MOUNTAIN, Westmoreland – Junior Education Minister Noel Monteith has warned that early childhood institutions that fail to conform to standards set by the ministry will be closed by the government.
“There are some basic schools that are far, far below the standards in terms of safety, health and the care that we need for them, and if by certain time they don’t improve some of them will be asked to close in the interest of the students,” Monteith said.
He said that the ministry, as part of its effort to transform the education system, has established a Early Childhood Commission to monitor, coordinate and oversee all early childhood institutions.
The commission, he added, is currently assessing the island’s 2,000 basic schools.
“We are doing the assessment because we want the basic schools to rise to high levels and to perform exceptionally,” Monteith stressed.
The junior education minister was speaking on Monday at the Argyle Mountain Basic School during the presentation of a cheque valued at $250,000 to undertake infrastructural works at the 15-year-old institution.
He later told the Observer that on completion of the assessment some of the island’s basic schools that are in close proximity could be merged.
“In some communities we have too many basic schools close to one another so it might be a good thing to close some and to make one into an ideal facility,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Luther Buchanan said the bulk of the funds will be used to improve the sanitary facilities at the institution.
“The balance of the money will be used to install windows and doors and we are hoping that the labour will be provided on a voluntary basis,” Buchanan added.
Argyle Mountain Basic School has approximately 40 students on roll and a teaching staff of two.