PORT MARIA, St Mary — As they get ready to begin a new school year, some teachers in St Mary say they are plagued by problems that have persisted for years.

However, they are determined to do their best to ensure that all goes well on September 4. Most of the schools that the Jamaica Observer spoke with said they are 99 per cent ready to welcome students.

Principal of the Water Valley Primary School Hyacinth Ricketts-Gayle said her team is looking forward to another successful school term despite a few challenges which have plagued them over time.

“Thank God that I have my full complement of [seven] teachers and a guidance counsellor. However, we are short of at least 15 desks and chairs, which our education officer is aware of,” she said.

The principal said the furniture shortage has persisted for a while even though the education ministry has been made aware of the problem. She also pointed out that there has been an unmet call, both from her and her predecessors, for the property to be fenced. “

“The school is wide open and perimeter fencing would give a sense of security, especially for the young ones,” she said.

For vice-principal of Mt Zion Primary School Millicent Nicholson, a lack of furniture and insufficient space are among the major concerns.

“We have sent in a request for 35-40 desks and chairs for students and seven desks and chairs for teachers as we have 12 teachers on staff,” she said.

“There is a building that has been used from 1939. It has been constantly repaired, but a new space is welcome,” she added.

Despite all these challenges, however, she was upbeat about the school’s overall readiness for the new school term.