Questions over the readiness and safety of several schools were raised on the eve of today’s reopening, with Watooka Day Primary, Wismar Hill Primary, Airy Hall and Mackenzie High School in Region 10, among schools facing concerns over unfinished works, structural defects and inadequate facilities.
The concerns are also being raised about schools in Region One, including Port Kaituma Primary and Mabaruma Primary, as parents, opposition representatives and other stakeholders call for urgent action to ensure students and teachers return to safe and functional learning environments.
The concerns come even as the Department of Education–Region 10 insists that Mackenzie High School will reopen today for all grades, and has accused some persons of attempting to create confusion and disrupt education through misinformation.
The department has urged parents and guardians to rely on official information from the Department of Education and school administrations.
However, critics maintain that raising concerns about school safety should not be dismissed as an attempt to disrupt education.
On Saturday, August 29, WIN Member of Parliament Dr. Ryan Richards, accompanied by Regional Councillor Leola Narine, visited several schools in Linden to assess their readiness ahead of the new school term.
At Watooka Day Primary School, the team reportedly observed unfinished gutter installation, several non-functional toilets and ongoing construction works.
Richards said windows had been installed on one of the buildings shortly before their arrival, with cement still wet around the installation. He also reported that the floors in the building were not tiled and that construction activities had left the area in an unfinished state.
Airy Hall has also been identified among the schools reportedly not ready to adequately receive students for the reopening, adding to growing concerns about the state of educational infrastructure in Region 10.
Similar concerns have been raised about Wismar Hill Primary School, which serves more than 600 students.
The reports have prompted questions about why significant works are still being undertaken immediately before the reopening of schools, following an approximately two-month vacation period.
Sayon Carmichael, responding to the Region 10 Education Department’s statement, said the issue was not opposition to students returning to school but whether schools were genuinely ready to safely accommodate them.
Carmichael called on the department to provide clear information on the condition of the schools, the works completed, outstanding repairs and measures being taken to protect students and teachers.
“Reopening must mean more than simply opening the school gates,” Carmichael argued, pointing to classrooms, washrooms, utilities, ventilation, furniture, access areas and the wider school compound as essential components of a safe learning environment.
Parents commenting on the issue have similarly questioned whether schools are fully prepared, with some calling for stakeholders to be invited to conduct walkthroughs before instruction resumes.
The concerns extend beyond Region 10.
In Region One, WIN MPs Natasha Singh and Dawn Hastings-Williams recently visited Port Kaituma Primary School, where they reported conditions they described as hazardous. More than 600 students reportedly attend the school, and concerns have also been raised about the stability of the structure.
At Mabaruma Primary School, parents have complained about deteriorating conditions, including reports of bats inside the school and damaged infrastructure.
Meanwhile, at Zeeburg Secondary School, parents were reportedly informed on Friday, August 28 just two days before reopening—that structural defects affecting some buildings would result in Grade 7 and Grade 8 students attending in separate half-day shifts.
Grade 7 students are expected to attend from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while Grade 8 students will attend from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Visible cracks and other structural concerns have reportedly prompted the arrangement, leaving parents with limited time to reorganize transportation, work schedules and other arrangements.
The Opposition Leader had previously highlighted concerns about Zeeburg Secondary School on December 3, 2025.
The reports contrast with assurances from Education Minister Sonia Parag, who said education officials, including regional education officers, school heads and teachers, had worked throughout the holiday period to ensure schools were prepared for the new academic year.
In a message ahead of Monday’s reopening, Parag said the Ministry had been providing resources and infrastructure to ensure children could thrive and succeed.
She also committed to working with stakeholders to strengthen the education system and provide students with the resources necessary for success.
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