Education officials dub Kaieteur News article, writer false
REGIONAL Education Officer (REO), Ms. Shaifran Bhajan has dubbed, as false, an article in Tuesday’s edition of Kaieteur News, headlined ‘Berbice Schools without furniture on first day’.
She charged that the writer, Leon Suseran twisted the information to suit himself.
Suseran, who is employed by the Ministry of Education, has a conflict of interest, being a teacher and a reporter and, as such, a report will be forwarded to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Bhajan told media representatives at a briefing in the Department of Education New Amsterdam, Berbice Office, on Tuesday.
The impromptu gathering, just after 12:00 hrs, was attended by the Education Officer (Secondary) Ms. Celestine La Rose; the Principals of Vryman’s Erven Secondary School, Mr. Deonarine Mangra; New Amsterdam Multilateral School, Ms. Jacqueline Benn and the Tutorial Academy Secondary School, Ms. Taijwattie Raghunha.
At the Philadelphia Street location, they were questioned as to whether they were visited by any parent who raised the issue of lack of furniture or anyone was authorised to take photographs.
Bhajan pointed out that the published picture captioned ‘A class at the Vryman’s Erven Secondary in New Amsterdam with hardly any furniture’, was, basically, a group of students who were transferred from the Vryman’s Erven Annex and awaiting their furnishings to follow them.
Explaining further, she said that the vehicle assigned to transport the things was engaged in transporting exercise books and Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) materials between Georgetown and Berbice and was unavailable until Monday afternoon when the desks and benches were taken to school.
“The furniture was not removed from a primary to facilitate the students at Vryman’s Erven Secondary. Instead, the furniture had belonged to the children and it followed them only a bit later, as the vehicle was otherwise engaged,” Bhajan added.
Unaware
Referring to a  the statement which said she was, seemingly, unaware of the situation, Bhajan said, because of the Department’s relationship with the community, the various school buildings would be rented to religious and other organisation which will host various activities. Consequently, because of inadequate care of the furniture, some will be destroyed and replacements will have to be sought.
“But it’s not like we have an inadequate supply. Every year, approximately $12M is expended towards the supply of furniture. One contractor is left to distribute an additional 77 pairs, which will be sent to Berbice Educational Institute and Tagore Secondary, as well as four primary schools, Auchlyene, St. Therese, All Saints and Corriverton. Currently the students have adequate seating accommodation. It is not a case where students are standing or seated on the floor,” she maintained.
Meanwhile, Mangra confirmed that the picture of the students in the published photograph was indeed of students from the Vryman’s Erven Annex and agreed that the publication was not telling the truth.
Benn said she was certain that no parent of a New Amsterdam Multilateral student would complain about shortage of furniture, as prior to the commencement of the new school year, she had placed advertisements on the television advising parents to visit the school in order that their children’s furniture can be moved from one class to the next.
In addition the school is being managed by a board which caters for the needs of the school on a yearly basis, she asserted.
Benn said she understood that Suseran was calling around and a teacher who knows him personally spoke to him.
“But we understand he is unscrupulous, which is very, very disappointing, because he is in the system and he has a good relationship with the Regional Educational Officer,” Benn said.
Joining in the discourse, Raghunha commonly called ‘Bhina’ denied speaking to the author of the article or knowing any parent who did so.
She expressed annoyance, remarking that Suseran is in the system and should have tried to upgrade his school not to destroy it by untrue remarks.
Caption: In picture, from left, seated Principals, Mr. Deonarine Mangra, Ms. Jacqueline Benn, Ms. Bhina. Back row, from left, Regional Education Officer, Ms. Shaifran Bhajan and Education Officer Secondary, Ms. Celestine La Rose.