The Tribune

THE Ministry of Education, Science and Technology claims an article and photos which appeared in The Tribune on Tuesday misrepresented the current state of the Colonel Hill High School in Crooked Island.

While the article noted that students did not attend school last week, it failed to point out that all students have attended school since Monday of this week, said the ministry in a statement.

The ministry said it “regrets the fact” that someone would seek to mislead the public about the current condition of the school with photos that were 7-10 days old.

However, the statement did not explain why the school was still in a state of disrepair nearly a month after the opening of the new school year.

It admitted the school was not ready for occupation until Tuesday, October 1, adding that students did not attend school on that date.

“The ministry is satisfied that the repairs carried out will allow the school to operate as normal for the principal, eight teachers and 30 students at the Colonel Hill High School,” the statement said.

Joel Lewis, District Superintendent for the MICAL District and Daniel Robinson, facilities manager in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology visited the island on Wednesday, September 17 to investigate additional requests for repairs made by the principal.

According to the statement, the following was still needed:

• Installation of four marker boards

• Painting of the interior of the Science Lab, Social Sciences Rooms and Library

• Removal of termite infested shelves in the Library (in order to convert to a Computer Lab)

• Replacement of water-logged drawers in cupboards of Science Lab

• Demolition and removal of a wooden cottage and generator house from the compound

•Extension of back-steps at rear of auditorium

The supplemental works, which cost around $9,000, began on September 30 and were completed by October 1, the ministry said.

These repairs were executed in addition to the works done under the $280,000 contract awarded to Renzo Construction earlier this year, it said.