THE New Diamond/Grove Primary School yesterday commenced registration for its very first batch of students for the new academic year starting September, 2012.
Parents came out in their numbers, with their children in tow, to the very first “Face the Community Meeting” with Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand; Regional Education Officer (acting), Barbara Andrews; and Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration), Donna Chapman, among others.
Minister Manickchand advised that the new school will be a model for other new schools to be measured against.
“We want the children coming out of this school to excel because we have done all that we could do in the ministry to make this a school of excellence. Not that we’re going to sacrifice other schools along the bank or anywhere else in the country, but we’re saying from now on, when we open schools, they must open from the beginning being schools of excellence,” she said.
The new school will house a library, sick bay, computer lab and canteen, among other facilities. The registration process for Grade One students coming from nursery schools, as well as for Grade Two-Six students from schools outside the community, began yesterday right after the face the community meeting. In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Education were present to assist with transfers.
Minister Manickchand noted that the head teacher and staff for the new school have been carefully selected; and so far, all those that have been selected are certified teachers.
She also took the time to commend the fathers present at the meeting, noting that majority of the audience consisted of women. “The responsibility for children cannot be mothers’ alone. No child can be developed the way a child should be developed if only a mother is contributing,” she said.