SECRETARY to the Cabinet, Dr Roger Luncheon said yesterday that Cabinet has utterly condemned the recent decision by APNU-led elements to invade and disrupt schools while classes are in progress.

Speaking at his weekly post-Cabinet news briefing at the Office of the President in Georgetown, Luncheon said protests about conditions at schools and other educational facilities have occurred and are expected to continue.
“Interruption of schools in progress…this is novel and it hasn’t been a feature of school protests so far. Worse yet, the recent decision to mobilize second, third and fourth formers during school hours to bear placards to protest is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Luncheon said parents must be concerned by this focus of the opposition on the education sector. “These are not spontaneous events. When does it stop? Locking of the gates to schools?”
On Monday parents and their children attending Parika-Salem Primary School, East Bank of Essequibo, protested the deplorable conditions there by locking the gates and preventing access to the compound.
The action started when teachers and pupils who were locked out of the premises, demonstrated with placards, pleading for a new building.
Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, Treasurer of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Ms. Ingrid France said the situation at the school has been deteriorating and they intend to continue protesting until it is addressed.
According to her, the institution has poor washroom amenities and there is a lack of potable water. Additionally, France, who has two children attending classes there, said there is also overcrowding, with three or four pupils sitting on one bench in a classroom.
She stated that some time ago, Education Minister, Priya Manickchand paid a visit and made a promise but nothing has been done so far.
Meanwhile, Luncheon did not deny that poor conditions exist at the school but pointed out that Cabinet was more concerned that the students were engaging in protest action during school hours.