Schoolboy says he went months without a desk

The mother of a student who attends a Corporate Area school says she has lost faith in the institution after her son did not have a desk and chair in his classroom for months.

The mother told THE STAR that when her child returned to school after the Christmas break, she was dumbfounded to hear he was without a desk.

"Him tell me that 'Mommy, you know I seh I don't have no desk to use at school? I was only able to get a chair'. I say how is that and him say apparently the desk gone because him come back two days late from the holiday," she said. Despite being annoyed with the situation, she was sure that he would be catered to shortly. But after months of 'kotching' with other students and his teachers, last Monday the 13-year-old also found that he was without a chair. Having paid her child's tuition, she said this treatment is unacceptable.

"This is a big school, a big established school. She [a school official] ago tell me say 'They've been having these problems because the school fee children are not paying and ministry a give people letter fi dem come back come collect back them school fee, and all a dem story deh. That is not my concern," she said.

"You see if them did just make an attempt fi give him the one chair same way and him nuh have no table, it wouldn't be so bad. But when him nuh have nothing at all, affi a stand up and write inna hand and you a pay school fee, that nah work fi me," she said.

The mother also said that when she visited the school last week, no one was available to talk about the matter or provide a chair "until when them see seh it escalate" as she began contacting the media.

"All kind a people a call them pon phone, that's when them go provide the chair the [following] morning to him," she added.

The school's principal said that the child received a desk and chair after the mother came in, however, he said that a student going without furniture for several months was "not likely".

"That's not likely and if it does happen, then wherever it happens, and once the school becomes aware, it will be dealth with," he said. He also admitted that there has been a long-standing issue with furniture and he has spoken to parents and students repeatedly.

"The wanton destruction of desks and chairs by students has been an ongoing concern and we have tried various methods to cauterise the situation. Although we have seen improvements, concerns still exist," he said. The mother said the ordeal has left her bitter.

"Mi nuh think nobody did hype pon dah school deh like me. Right about now, if me can get myself fi move from deh a morning, a just because mi cyah go bother with the hassle, and him father really wanted him to go to that school. Me lose offa dem," she said.