Schools will be ready to open, says Sears

Public Works Minister Alfred Sears.

As of Thursday, August 18, 2022

SUMMERTIME repairs being made to TA Thompson Jr High. Photo: Austin Fernander

By JADE RUSSELL

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the assertion that the government will be unable to complete school repairs before the new academic year begins, Works and Utilities Minister Alfred Sears said he is confident the work will be done on time.

Mr Sears, who is also a former Minister of Education, said he is well aware of the challenges the ministry has faced, particularly due to the fact that for almost two years most of the campuses were closed.

He noted there are a great number of structural defects that have to be addressed in the process.

Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands said earlier this week that it seemed unimaginable for some schools to be ready for the opening of schools on August 29.

“The Minister of Education has made it very clear that she would like for all of the schools to be ready for the 29th of August when the students come in and also for the 22nd, when the teachers and the administrators come,” the minister said on the sidelines of a climate change conference at Baha Mar.

“First of all, the entire Ministry of Works, were working flat out - our architects, engineers, as project coordinators, and have been really stretched scoping hundreds of schools, not only here in New Providence, but also in Family Islands. I am advised that those projects will come on stream. Some of the projects will have to be cut back, because there’s just not sufficient time,” he said.

The minister told reporters he had confidence in the projects reaching completion in a timely fashion.

He said: “First of all, I am happy that the spokesman gave a qualification. He didn’t say it’s impossible. It’s almost impossible and it will be done. You know, that’s the commitment we have made and we’re doing it with the partnership of contractors.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students were unable to attend school face-to-face and had to adjust to virtual learning.

Mr Sears explained that people are relieved that their children will be able to re-enter school after being out for such a long period of time.

He described the reopening as an opportunity not only to engage in the tooling function, but also the socialisation function of school.

When asked about the cost of the school repairs so far, the minister noted that repairs are still ongoing.

However, once the final number is concluded it will be disclosed publicly.

tribanon 2 years, 4 months ago

The schools will be open, but will the children have adequate safe drinking water fountains, as well as functional and sanitary restroom facilities?

Can't help but wonder where Alfred and his wife sent their own children to school when they were younger and he was carrying water for Vomit Christie.

moncurcool 2 years, 4 months ago

How is it every darn year it is the same problem with these schools, in Nassau? Do these guys not know about year round maintenance? Do they not know how to plan to start work right as the summer begins?

And yet people say the government take over Freeport. Wow. No thanks

carltonr61 2 years, 4 months ago

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/…

No vaccines for children in this latest CDC Education should not be disrupted. The PAHO voodoo is always six months behind the real world.

ThisIsOurs 2 years, 4 months ago

"minister told reporters he had confidence in the projects reaching completion in a timely fashion... Some of the projects will have to be cut back, because there’s just not sufficient time,” he said."

So we moved the basket (goal) to 2ft and scored 300pts. That's exceptional. NBA teams dont typically score more than 120, we outperformed professional teams!! great job.

"When asked about the cost of the school repairs so far, the minister noted that repairs are still ongoing.However, once the final number is concluded it will be disclosed publicly"

So many issues... Cost isnt something you discover afterwards. Its something you define up front, declare before you start, and then control, closely, to watch for and report deviations on over the lifetime of the project. It's not supposed to be, "Surprise!!"

I understand that Mr Sears is brilliant so I'm assuming these statements are simply to pacify the public. But we cant get anywhere if we continue to set these wishy washy slapdash expectations of how proper systems work.

tribanon 2 years, 4 months ago

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ThisIsOurs 2 years, 4 months ago

Oh boy. I was trying to be fair

tribanon 2 years, 4 months ago

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birdiestrachan 2 years, 4 months ago

Dr sands does not want the school to open on time he does not wish them well bad minds

tribanon 2 years, 4 months ago

ZZZZZzzzzz.....

John 2 years, 4 months ago

Don’t worry Belinda Payne will still throw a tantrum, like a five year old, on the first day of school. Nothing is ever enough or good enough for her. Children need to get back into the classroom and catch up with two lost years.

themessenger 2 years, 4 months ago

No doubt about where Birdie was educated, University of Wullf Road standout.

tribanon 2 years, 4 months ago

And she was the Valedictorian the year of her graduation from University of Wulff Road.

moncurcool 2 years, 4 months ago

So true. Typical graduate.

carltonr61 2 years, 4 months ago

Students make up the macrocosm representing of our communities and like elsewhere in the world present opportunities good and bad. In the USA school systems are threatened by mass shootings even though the educational possibilities and infrastructures are great compared to the Bahamas. But even in the USA they faced school closers for reasons that baffles us here. Miss utopia Wilson dreams 100% of ways to get kids out of school rather than placing her persuasions on 100% opportunities to ensure that the least grain of salt or spark of light of this Bahamas be educated. Education is as important to children as a fresh chump of salad.

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