The GSD have issued a statement regarding concerns expressed by parents of pupils attending St Joseph’s Lower Primary School during the course of Friday where works have commenced on the refurbishments.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

Parents of pupils attending St Joseph’s Lower Primary School have expressed concerns in  respect of problems experienced at the school during the course of Friday. 

Works have commenced on the refurbishments of St Joseph’s Schools and these caused  disruptions to teaching as well as health concerns reported by some children. 

Other than the noise pollution which has caused the school to have to adjust their teaching  programmes, the worst effects are those which resulted in consequences in respect of pupils’  health. Lots of parents have reported that their children complained of headaches and  congestion. Further alarms have been raised by parents whose children suffer from asthma  and as a direct consequence of these works their conditions have become worse. 

The GSD Opposition calls upon Government to issue a statement setting out what  immediate measures are being put in place in order to improve the pupils’ and staff’s  learning and working conditions especially when they were assured that works would only  continue outside teaching hours.  

Shadow Education Minister, Edwin Reyes said: “Parents were specifically promised by  Government that works would only happen outside of school hours but Friday’s incidents  shows that this commitment has not been adhered. Parents are naturally concerned about  their children’s welfare and problems like those experienced on Friday cannot be allowed to  reoccur.”