Teachers’ union says some schools still await promised construction

By Tahna Weston Tahna. weston@antiguaobserver. com Even as construction work is being praised at schools across the island, Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT) President Casroy Charles said others are still awaiting promised improvements. Charles welcomed the construction taking place at schools including the Antigua Grammar School and Clare Hall Secondary but said several other schools were promised similar work and remain without it. He said the A&BUT is particularly concerned about Ottos Comprehensive School, which he said was promised a new wing about a decade ago. Charles noted that the union had previously called on the Ministry of Education to fulfil the promise made to that secondary school.

“Well, I welcome the initiative in terms of the construction that is going on because those spaces are much-needed,” Charles said. “The issue that I would say the union will have is the fact that several schools were promised a similar rollout in terms of construction, and they’re still awaiting it. And the Ottos Comprehensive School is one of the first schools that comes to my mind,” Charles said. Charles also raised concerns about parking at Ottos Comprehensive, saying teachers have complained for years about inadequate facilities, particularly during heavy rainfall. “The parking facility is inadequate and, at times, inappropriate when you have severe rainfall. However, little has been done to address that issue,” he said. Charles said wet conditions can make the parking area extremely muddy, leaving…