AMELIA HOSEIN, acting principal of the Grant Memorial Presbyterian School, San Fernando, has reportedly kayoed extra lessons at the well-established institution, and angry parents of students due to write the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination have strongly condemned her recent action.

Reports reaching TnT Mirror are that the principal’s action to stop SEA evening lessons for money at the school came on the heels of a recent letter being written by a frustrated parent to the Ministry of Education.

The letter reportedly complained about the rising cost of the extra lessons at the school.

There are also reports of poor students who can’t afford to pay for the extra lessons being insulted by certain teachers.

Sources said that apart from steep monthly fees, parents are forced to dig deeper into their pockets to pay as much as $30 for photo copied papers on any given day.

Mirror has since learnt that some anxious parents have opted to fork out the almost 75 per cent increase in fees, to see their children safely off to their first-choice school, by sending them to lessons now being given by the same Grant Memorial School teachers in class rooms rented at the Presentation College, Carib Street, San Fernando.

The college is located opposite the Grant Memorial School.

Others, meanwhile, not prepared, to pay the increased fees, are reportedly still running around looking for anywhere giving “good” but cheaper lessons, to keep their children in line for top SEA honours.

Grant School students in Presentation College Yard.

Grant School students manouevre between cars
on Carib Street.

Parents accompanying students to lessons at
Presentation College.

Sources disclosed that the principal was put under pressure “by both the ministry and her staff” following the piece of communication to the ministry.

“She held meetings, but no compromise could have been reached,” the parent stated, “and talks subsequently broke down”.

“She asked the teachers to reduce their fees but they refused.”

“The extra money for photo copies was also discussed but the teachers just weren’t budging.”

Some of the “lessons” classes resumed last week, at Presentation College.

Parents also said the students going for lessons “over the road” are now faced with new challenges.

“Imagine they are told that they cannot carry their school bags with them into the college, neither are they to leave them in their respective classrooms,” another worried parent declared.

“So who will watch their bags while they are in class?

“What about when rain falls?”

She went on: “What about them having to cross the busy road there.

“Carib Street is a mess with traffic on afternoons and the students’ lives are now at risk, all because of the decision by the principal.”

Lessons begin at 3 p.m. and finish around 4.15 or 4.30 p.m.

“The school has put us under even more pressure because we want the best for our children,” the parent added.

Mirror was told that upon the resumption of the new school term two weeks ago, teachers were shocked when the principal announced that no longer will she allow paid extra lessons at the school.

Paid lessons are offered at the school from as early as Standard Three.

The cost recently increased by about 75 per cent from $125 to $150 per month, and the recent move to the new venue has sent the cost skyrocketing even further.

Fees for lessons now include rent.

“She said any classes being conducted at the school, outside normal school hours must be free, in accordance with a long-standing directive from the Ministry of Education,” Mirror was told.

“She said if they insisted on still giving lessons at the school they had to sign a form from the Ministry of Education.”

No one, has so far, signed.

Parents stated that it is the “first time in years” that there are no extra lessons at the so-called prestige primary school.

Standard Five teachers are, however, said to be complaining about the heavy SEA syllabus which, they claim, makes it impossible for them to complete all the work within school hours.

“The teachers explained to us that they needed to give extra lessons on afternoons or else they would not complete the syllabus in time for SEA,” one parent continued.

“If that is the case, we are prepared to support and will pay whatever to ensure the children get their first choice school.

“This is Grant School and we always have students in the top 10 or 100 when results are released. Our students excel and it is because of the type of work teachers put in with extra lessons.

“They said it was difficult for extra lessons to be conducted during lunch hour.”

Admitting that they were aware of the policy that paid lessons are not allowed in schools and that the Education Ministry is now trying to stamp out the practice, which discriminates against poor students, some parents, however, still slammed the principal for not protecting her teachers.

“All over paid lessons are not allowed in school, but principals often protect the teachers from the wrath of the ministry,” another parent added.

“We don’t know why she is moving like this.

“We don’t know if the fact that she’s to be appointed principal soon has anything to do with her sudden change of heart.”

Other parents, however, supported the principal’s decision and called on the Ministry of Education to police other schools to ensure that other principals also follow the no-paid lessons in school rule.

Principal Hosein’s phone at her office went unanswered at Press time when Mirror called.

It has been learnt that school was out for two days, due to training sessions being conducted for members of staff.