The physical plant at Clement Howell High School and indeed all of our schools are of a serious concern, so says the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sport & Libraries. The department said that it is for this reason that they are addressing these issues as much as possible within the severely restricted resources that they have.
The ongoing maintenance issues at the Clement Howell High School will be addressed during the Summer Works Program, as is done at all Turks & Caicos Islands Government managed educational facilities.
The Public Works Department, a department within the Ministry of Government Support Services has a schedule of all the works needed to upgrade the current building/infrastructure at CHHS and this will be done over the next two years. It should also be noted that, the new bathroom blocks are under construction and have been during this school year. By the time the new school year commences there will be a new perimeter fence surrounding the compound.
The Ministry also stated that all users of the CHHS facility including students, staff, parents and guardians would be well aware of the canteen facilities under construction by their partners at Beaches (Turks & Caicos) Resort and Spa, who have joined in to help alleviate some of the problems at that campus.
The commitment by our Government to build a second Secondary School compound in Providenciales will have a direct impact on CHHS as the numbers become more manageable, but also would allow for a holistic approach to tackling the needed repairs in stages.
Speaking to further challenges, the Ministry stated that, sadly the management of the school is also challenged by unruly behavior of some students who continue to be destructive and are not minded to treat the school property with respect.
Most of the maintenance issues come from students who refuse to adhere to rules and who continually destroy items on the compound and in classrooms, which were repaired prior to any start of the new school year. This is an ongoing complaint from the Public Works Department that is routinely called to the Compound to make repairs on the same destroyed property time after time.
In light of the increased levels of indiscipline in our schools, the Government will introduce a Zero Tolerance Policy. This policy will address behaviors that are deemed destructive and that jeopardize the health and safety of all users of the Compounds. Parents will be minded to note that their child could be sent home or suspended if they are found to be wilfully destroying school property on a continuous basis.
Addressing the continued destruction of property on our compounds needs the commitment and involvement of not only the Government but must include teachers, principals, parents, media houses and the community at large added the Ministry.
We have to work together and help stop the destruction of our already aged and worn facilities. A school is a facility of learning and a community resource and should be treated as such.
