SCHOOLS countrywide reopened yesterday with Education Minister, Priya Manickchand expressing joy and dissatisfaction, alternatively, with what happened at some.

This Guyana Chronicle reporter accompanied the Minister to Stella Maris Nursery and Primary Schools and Richard Ishmael Secondary School, on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.
She commented on several things with which she was satisfied at those institutions, including the number of children in attendance on the first day of the new term, the readiness of teachers and classrooms to accommodate the children and the visible general work in progress.
While at Stella Maris Primary, Ms. Manickchand met a child who was taken there from the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, after it had been determined, by doctors, that the girl was academically inclined and able to function and cope with the normal level of work in the classroom.
Similar integration is ongoing countrywide since the Ministry of Education, on the advice of experts, decided to integrate special needs and differently able children with the others rather than teaching them in isolation at special schools.
At Stella Maris, Minister Manickchand also interacted with new entrants as well as those who would have changed classes, including those in grades four and six.
Financial problem
As she made her rounds at that school, she encountered a woman and her grandchild who was unable to start schooling yesterday because of a financial problem.
The visibly upset Minister summoned the Headteacher, who, when asked why the student was not enrolled, said the child must return on Wednesday when the Parent/Teachers Association (PTA) officials are available to issue a form to concretise the enrollment.
The Head and Deputy Headteachers were instructed to, immediately, find a class and put the girl. As a result, the latter, clad in casual clothing, was taken to a classroom and commenced work.
Minister Manickchand was informed, too, that there is a rift between the school management and the PTA, which is responsible for the swampy and slippery conditions in the compound, as several things cannot be done because there is no consensus.
On hearing that, the minister became very upset and left the school after ordering the Head and Deputy to get the issues sorted out or the entire staff will be removed to accommodate a more productive set of teachers who would ensure that the business of the school and the interest of the children are placed above egos.
Before entering the Richard Ishmael Secondary premises, Manickchand had cause to enquire about the lateness of two male students who were going in at 09:30 hrs.
She asked them what time classes start and what right they had to enter the gate after the bell would have already been rung.
One of the boys said he had to visit his father to collect his school tie while another claimed he was at morning lessons and that caused him to be late for school.
Boys’ claims
Minister Manickchand then ordered the Deputy Headteacher to investigate the boys’ claims, including checking with their parents, to verify whether they were telling the truth.
Inside the school, the minister was pleased to see that all first formers were engaged with their teachers in the classrooms. Like the other schools she visited, the visit to Richard Ishmael Secondary was not announced.
She was taken aback by what she saw in the first class, a student assisting his classmate to fix his tie. Most of the first formers had theirs tied by others and more did it themselves.
In another first form, the teacher was in the process of making the newcomers familiar with the school rules and emphasised that no littering was allowed.
The minister added that the bigger responsibility is ensuring that they do not litter any part of the country and those found doing so should be reprimanded.
During yesterday’s tour the minister counted and said two times table with some schoolchildren and had a chat about religion and the communities from which they originate.
She advised that each child needs to appreciate the other’s religious practice and share their beliefs if they want to have a better understanding of what the various religions mean to those who believe in them.