Fair Prospect classes resume

Classes have resumed at the Fair Prospect Primary School in Portland, following protest action by parents of students at the institution yesterday.



During the protest, the gates to the school were padlocked preventing teachers and other administrative staff from entering the compound.



An emergency meeting between senior education officers from the Ministry of Education and irate parents and guardians, last night prevented any further protest action.



The parents had been demonstrating against the poor physical conditions at the school and the inadequate security arrangements.



Guidance Counsellor Kaye Glennie said that the school’s main building was ravaged during the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav.



She said the Education Ministry had promised to build six new classrooms to replace the ones that were damaged in the storm.



However, there was no indication when construction would begin.



During last night’s meeting representatives of the Education Ministry pledged to construct three temporary classrooms for the start of January 2009 school term.



One parent, Maxine Wellington told our correspondent that she is satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.



She said parents are now looking forward to the construction of the three classrooms, which should result in the abandonment of the shift system.