Students attending the Althea Scatliffe Primary School will be reassigned to other schools across the territory after it was determined that the school’s structure was unsafe for a resumption of activities in the coming school year.
The Althea Scatliffe Primary School was closed in June following an assessment commissioned by the Ministry of Education that deemed the building structurally unsound.
Since then, Minister for Education Honourable Sharie de Castro revealed that it had been decided that the school will remain closed indefinitely.
She said, “Sections of the roof had already caved in, other portions were breaking more frequently and the teachers were uneasy every day in the building…. A primary concern in the report was the structural stability of the building and it being unsafe for continued occupancy. The ministry, erring on the side of caution, made steps to close the building effective Friday, June 17th, 2022… Overall our objective was that we prioritise the safety of our students, faculty and staff.”
Though initially officials were hoping to find a space large enough and suitable to house the school’s 375 students and 40 staff, as well as the 15 special needs students and 6 employees of the Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre, de Castro said it was ultimately determined that the most efficient and effective course of action would be to have the students reassigned.
For the school year commencing September 5, 2022:
Grades 5 and 6 students from the Althea Scatliffe Primary School will be placed at the Enis Adams Primary School in Meyer’s Estate.
Accommodations will be made to allow the siblings of these Grade 5 and 6 students to also attend the Enis Adam Primary School.
Grades 3 and 4 students will be accommodated at the Francis Lettsome Primary School in Greenland.
Where space is available, students residing in outlying communities may be accommodated at the school closest to their place of residence.
24 to 30 students from Grade two will be accommodated at the Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary School, while other Grade 2 students will be accommodated at schools based on their place of residence.
To assist parents with making the transition, the Ministry of Education will cover the cost of transportation from a central location in town for students to be taken to their assigned school locations.
Students are also given the option to remain in their original school uniform or wear the uniform of the school they have been reassigned to.
De Castro said that in the meantime assessments continue on the campus of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School to determine if the school will be rebuilt or remodeled in the future.