UPDATE: Respiratory issues forced out tech students, Walwyn admits
The Minister made this disclosure during the budget debates for the Fifth Sitting of the Second Session of the Second House of Assembly. At the time of his statement, the Minister was referring to allocations being made towards various schools around the Territory. He noted that the institute is slated to receive some $750,000 as was previously announced.
“While we’re on the Technical School Madam Speaker,” Hon. Walwyn said, “we moved the students to the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall in anticipation of starting some of the works there [at the Baughers Bay building], but we had to take the decision to move them back… because of some respiratory problems that were taking place there.”
The Minister further stated that there was some works that needs to be done at the centre adding, “we have to find some money in this budget to do some work to clear up the issues there.”
There was no mention of the present status of the work but he assured that the remedial works planned would be completed in time for the new school year to accommodate the staff and students of the institute. “As we speak, we are doing remedial works now to the building to make it more comfortable for them…”
Hon. Walwyn also disclosed that construction work will start in January for the second building that was previously acquired for the institute.
See previous story posted on December 10, 2012:
UPDATE: Education Officials mum so far on VI Tech Institute relocation
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Education officials are so far mum on the alleged reasons the VI Technical and Vocational Institute is to be relocated to its original accommodation in Baugher’s Bay for the new school term in January 2013.
Several sources had disclosed that the staff and students of the Institute are to be relocated due to the environment at the Sir Rupert Briercliff Hall not being conducive to learning and a spate of respiratory related illnesses occurring with both staff and students at the Hall.
When contacted by this news site, Acting Chief Education Officer, Mrs Jillian Douglas Phillip acknowledged that she was aware of the move but offered no further comment on the issue.
Instead, she referred all queries to Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Dr Marcia Potter. It was disclosed that Dr Potter is currently on vacation and her office could not be reached on a date for her return from leave.
Attempts to contact Acting Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs Prudence Mathavious, also proved futile as she was reportedly unavailable.
In a release issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture today, it was stated that the Institute is expected to receive 30 computers and two network printers as part of an assortment of renovation and remedial works done on schools in the Territory in preparation for the upcoming school term. It was disclosed that the works would cost in excess of $700,000.
See previous story posted December 10, 2012:
Respiratory issues will force return to Baugher's Bay building next term as several students & officials reportedly fall ill
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Staff and students of the Virgin Islands Technical and Vocational Institute will be returning to their old accommodation in Baugher's Bay at the beginning of the new school term in January 2013. The move is said to be a forced decision and was prompted after several persons reportedly fell ill over a short period of time since the school had taken up its new accommodation in Road Town at the beginning of the new school term in September, 2012.
The school is currently being accommodated at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall after it was announced that construction work would done at the school’s original location in Baugher's Bay. From all appearances, no work has since been done on the facility at Baugher's Bay.
Several sources, who asked not to have their names revealed due to the sensitive nature of the issue, have confirmed that the environment at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall has not been conducive to learning. This has led to several teachers and students suffering from various types of respiratory complaints.
The air is reported to be very "stuffy" and constantly filled with dust. It is unclear how this has affected the overall attendance at the school. The conditions have reportedly forced several persons to seek medical treatment as well.
When the students first took up accommodation at the school, there were several large fans placed at various points around the hall while the students were sectioned into various quarters separated by chalk boards. There were no functioning air conditioning units visible at the time.
The current Principal of the school is Mr Elmore Stoutt, a former truancy officer, who had recently been appointed to the role of Principal of the institution.
“This is our setting, and it also belongs to other people, so we’ve got to take care of it," Mr Stoutt declared in his opening remarks in September.
Efforts to reach Mr Stoutt for any comments on the issue were unsuccessful up to post time.
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