Thursday, June 14, 2012

Gopeesingh to meet RC Archbishop to discuss temporary merger of catholic and state schools

The Catholic Church is offended by a decision to merge two schools - the Roman Catholic school and the Government Primary school at Point Cumana.

Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh made the decision in consultation with the MP for the area, Opposition Leader Keith Rowley, and other stakeholders. The merger became necessary because the building housing the denominational school is unsafe and has been condemned.

However the church is upset, claiming that the authorities made a unilateral decision to close its school. Archbishop Joseph Harris called the action "Illegal, unacceptable and a breach of trust", noting that the church was "neither consulted or informed as is our right".

The head of the Catholic Church in Trinidad & Tobago said the choice of a Catholic education is a right and the Minister has "no constitutional power to determine whether a Catholic primary school is to exist or not."

He said the Board of the church plans to move its teachers and students to another location until the matter is resolved. In addition, he said the Board is exploring its legal options.

However Gopeesingh has defended the move and pointed out that it was Rowley who was adamant that the schools be merged. He also said he has faced similar situations with other demoninational boards and he had taken decisions "on the basis of equity, fairplay and justice".

Gopeesingh said he attended a meeting of the parents of both the Catholic school and the Government school at Point Cumana on Monday on the invitation of Rowley. He noted that a representative of the Catholic Board was at the meeting.

"They left the meeting knowing that this (merger) was a temporary measure for the interest and benefit of all the students and the parents. But obviously there has been some miscommunication between the members present and what was told to the Archbishop," he said.

"I indicated to the Catholic board members that once they got the land for us, the Ministry of Education would readily build a new school. Obviously that was not communicated to the Archbishop. Obviously he thought it was a disestablishment of a school and that is not so," he said.

Gopeesingh has called Archbishop Harris to set up a meeting. Rowley has refused to accept any responsibility for the matter, which he said is between the Ministry and the Catholic board.

"I am the Member of Parliament. It is not a matter of whose idea it is. The Government has a responsibility to find a place for these children whose school has been condemned," he said.

The Catholic school building is unsafe and unfit for use. The Town and Country Planning Division has refused to grant permission for a school to be built on the current site.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai