A parent, who has three children attending the Petersville Primary School says that the current situation at the institution is so serious that she is contemplating home schooling them.
According to Ann- Toya Adams, her daughter – who is a Grade 5 student at the school – recently informed her that her teacher had taken leave forcing her class to be taken to another one for the balance of the day.
Just over a week ago, the story broke that it was being reported that some members of the staff at the Petersville Primary School had not received their salaries since December 2023.
As a result, many parents of children who attend the school were complaining about the regular replacement of teachers and the effects it has had on their children.
Adams said that the issue was not a one-off problem at the school.
“It’s a recurring issue that would end up having detrimental consequences on not only my children, but for every other child attending the school,” Adams said.
The woman said that she has three children that attend the school – they are in Grades 2, 4 and 5.
“Grade 5 is a crucial time for my child,” she told ANN.
“I don’t need no unwarranted hiccups in her way,” she continued.
The concerned parent said that she made the decision to explore the possibility of home schooling until the current school terms ends and use that time to find another suitable school for her children.
“Why send my child to school everyday to sit there and do nothing?” she lamented.
Her concern was who was going to replace the present teacher should they too decided to call it quits over non-payment of salary.
Adams said that she was not upset with her daughter’s former teacher for leaving saying that she would have probably done the same thing if she was in a similar situation.
“Deep in my heart I knew she would leave, like the many before her but I was just hoping for her to make through the end of school term, because like I mentioned before, she’s really a great teacher,” Adams contended.
While saying that the constant changing of teachers was a major concern, she went on to say that she presently pays EC$1,500 per term for her three children and the conditions at the school were not up to par.
Adams complained that there are no doors on the stalls in the bathrooms, there is not toilet paper – she said that she gives her children toilet paper to walk with, however.
The roof was leaking in some areas and the furniture was in such deplorable conditions that it destroyed her children’s uniforms.
In addition, there are hardly any Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meetings called and she has never been to a ‘Parents’ Day’ meeting at the school.
ANN on three (3) occasions attempted to reach out to the school, and all attempts were unsuccessful