| Fire damages primary school on Grand Turk *with video* | | Print | |
| Monday, 22 November 2010 10:34 | |||
 Fire severely damaged the Ona Glinton Primary School on Grand Turk on Sunday, Nov. 21, the Department of Education, Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture confirmed today (Nov. 22).The fire destroyed nine classrooms, the computer lab, the guidance counselor/music/physical education office and the canteen/tuck shop. The destruction has displaced the entire school population. Students will now have to wait in limbo until alternative arrangements can be made. No details were released about the origin of the blaze, but fire and police on Grand Turk worked to contain the blaze most of the day Sunday. A working committee comprising personnel from the ministries and departments of education, finance and works has been established and met to discuss plans for moving forward with the rebuilding of the school. This poses a significant setback for the ministry, which has struggled over many hurdles, especially financial challenges, during the past two years. A classroom shortage plagued the education department in the 2009-10 school year, after private school scholarship cutbacks forced a large number of students back into the public school system. One hundred twenty registered kindergarten students missed the entire first term of the school year, awaiting container classrooms paid for by the government, to arrive and be prepared at the three primary schools and one high school on Providenciales. The news will be especially t The school experienced almost complete destruction of its buildings and much of its school materials during category four Hurricane Ike, which passed over the island just days before the school was to open for the year in September 2008. After a late start, teachers held classes in tents on the school grounds for more than a year until container classrooms donated by Carnival Cruise Lines could be installed. Aside from their challenges in the makeshift classrooms and often unbearable heat, many children also were suffering at home, carrying emotional struggles from the loss of their own homes and belongings from Ike, some living without electricity and water. The ministry assured that, despite this new set back, it is committed to making education its priority and will, in the shortest possible time, announce the necessary strategies to have the students and teachers back in a safe working environment. “We wish to thank officers of the fire and police departments who worked assiduously to contain the fire. To all the teachers, parents, past and present students and other community members who in whatever way contributed to ensuring that no further damage was done, we express sincere thanks.” “In these challenging times, Turks and Caicos let us unite as we work to comfort and strengthen our teachers and students to continue on the path of Improving Standards in Education.” (Photos by Mitch Rolling/Blue Water Divers) In the interim, the following activities are scheduled: Monday, Nov. 22
Tuesday November 23
Wednesday, Nov. 24
Thursday, Nov. 25
Friday Nov. 25
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rying for the families and students who suffered through a trying school year in 2008-09 at the H.J. Robinson High School on Grand Turk.
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