UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS IN SCHOOLS AT THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

PRESS RELEASE

FROM MR. ROBERT BEEN JR., DEPUTY LEADER OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 4th September 2024 – Today, I stand deeply concerned and profoundly disappointed as we begin a new school year under conditions that can only be described as deplorable. Reports from across the islands, including a disturbing account from the Ianthe Pratt Primary School in The Bight, Providenciales, reveal that our children and teachers are being forced into an environment that is unfit for learning, health, and safety.

It has come to the public’s attention that the grounds of the Ianthe Pratt Primary School are overgrown with unkempt grass, and the buildings remain unpainted, with no visible repairs or preparations made ahead of the academic year. Even more concerning is the condition of the container classrooms, which are terribly rusty and should be remedied immediately due to the significant health risks they pose to both students and teachers.

These conditions are unacceptable, and they reflect a gross failure of Progressive National Party (PNP) Government to prioritize the education and well-being of our children. While the Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, boasts of progress and readiness in her press release dated 3rd September 2024, the reality on the ground tells a very different story. It is alleged that the Enid Capron Primary School, located in her constituency, received special attention and preparation, in stark contrast to the neglect observed at other schools. This blatant disparity is not only unfair but also indicative of a government that is more concerned with optics than with the equitable treatment of all our students.

The state of our schools is a direct result of the PNP Government’s incompetence and their failure to ensure that the necessary resources were provided to prepare our schools adequately for reopening. Our children are our future, yet they are being treated as an afterthought. This lack of action shows that the current administration does not view education as a priority, leaving our teachers frustrated and our students at risk.

As Deputy Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement, I want to assure the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands that we will not stand by and allow our children to be shortchanged. Education is the cornerstone of any thriving society, and it is disgraceful that our government has failed so miserably in this regard. We call upon the PNP Government to immediately address these issues and ensure that all schools are provided with the necessary resources to create a safe and conducive learning environment.

Our children and teachers deserve better, and they deserve it now. This is an urgent call for action—our future depends on it.

Robert Been Jr.
Deputy Leader, Peoples Democratic Movement