PLEASE permit me space in your letter column to highlight a serious issue that is and will continue to affect the parents and students of Lancaster Secondary School, East Coast Demerara.

It is my hope that the following be investigated immediately by education officials.

The school for over two years has not entered any child to sit the CSEC exams. I had to remove two of my children from the school for this reason, when I would have already removed them from a private one to the present one.

Presently, on registering a child for the new school year, parents are asked to pay $1,500. In addition, they have to pay $400 for the school’s badge, $400 for uniform tie, $400 for exams booklet, $500 for printing of exams question each school term and give other contributions from time to time; for market day, school sports, teachers’ day, Mashramani etc.

When I questioned other teachers within the school and the Parents, Teachers Association (PTA) members on the issue, they said all the funds within the school are controlled by the head teacher. He sells the badge, booklet and tie and uses his photocopy machine with the school’s electricity to print test papers. When he was questioned, he said the PTA recommended this. If so, let the PTA run the education system. No need for the Minister, Chief Education Officers and others. It therefore means the Head Master is exploiting the school and the children for his own gains.

He leaves school long after the school hours daily (after the 8:00 pm hours) or beyond. Based on the security he is there using the computer, photocopying papers, and is suspected to be involved with one of the cleaners in their wrong doing. Any person in the community can attest to what I have penned here.

Mr. Editor, schools reopen September 1, will we as parents have to face this atrocity for another year or longer. Only the other day, we as citizens of the community learnt that the three graduates from the University of Guyana of the school have all been promoted to other schools in the country. What will happen to our children’s education under this unqualified headmaster? Apparently, he has a godfather within the Education Ministry.

Mr. Editor, I am requesting that you please publish this letter before school reopens so our children can benefit from a qualified person and do not have to be faced with an opportunist again.

This headmaster should be sent to a nursery school where there are small children and where he would not have the opportunity to exploit them nor their hard working parents.

GTU President Mr. C. King should stop attacking the TSC and give his attention, to this matter.
D. PERSAUD