THE EDITOR, Sir:
THIS LETTER has been sent to the Minister of Education, the Honorable Maxine Henry Wilson:
Dear Minister,
Let there be no misunderstanding, the purpose of this letter is to bring to your personal attention the voluminous problem which exists at the Newton Primary School. There is manifest incompetence and non-co-operation between some teachers who do not even attend training seminars organised by the Ministry of Education.
It is amazing and frightening to listen to comments made by some teachers in meetings called by the undersigned to find ways and means to improve the quality of education for the children at the school.
There is a significant reduction in the student population at the Newton Primary School and please be advised, that they, the children, are not at a home or on the streets. Parents are forced to find alternate primary schools to send their children. As a matter of fact, one can see children lining up to take the buses every school morning to Glen Stewart Primary, Siloah Primary or Lacovia Primary.
As I write the average daily attendance of 35-60 students is down from 150 two years ago. Only a minority of the parents from the preparatory school in the area send their children to this school making the situation there even worse.
Recently, $1,600,000 was spent to replace a leaking roof, build a computer lab and purchase three new computers, mahogany desks and chairs for teachers and modern learning materials for the students.
The situation is unacceptable. A ministerial inquiry must be done with a view to correcting the situation. The children of the Newton, Barton and Haughton districts deserve better and certainly we in this section of St. Elizabeth must be treated better.
I am, etc.,
GLEN V. BROMFIELD
OD,
Justice of the Peace
Board Chairman
