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Incomplete renovation works delay re-opening of Joyce Samuel Primary School

- opening delayed until Sept 19, 2023
Students and teachers at the Joyce Samuel primary school will not be returning to the classroom until September 19, 2023, as a result of delayed work in completing renovations at the school. Photo: Internet Source
In a letter from the Acting Chief Education Officer, Orlandette R. Crabbe seen by our newsroom, Ms Crabbe informed that due to the delayed infrastructure works commenced over the summer break the school will no longer be opening for the start of the term. Photo: Facebook/File
In a letter from the Acting Chief Education Officer, Orlandette R. Crabbe seen by our newsroom, Ms Crabbe informed that due to the delayed infrastructure works commenced over the summer break the school will no longer be opening for the start of the term. Photo: Facebook/File
BELLE VUE, Tortola, VI - Students and teachers at the Joyce Samuel Primary School in Belle Vue will not be returning to the classroom until September 19, 2023, as a result of delayed work in completing renovations at the school.

In a letter from the Acting Chief Education Officer, Orlandette R. Crabbe, and seen by our newsroom, Ms Crabbe informed that, due to the delayed infrastructure works commenced over the summer break, the school will no longer be opening for the start of the term, September 11, 2023.

According to the letter dated September 7, 2023, works included renovation of the student bathroom, painting of the classrooms, and the resurfacing of the classroom floors. 

Efforts made to complete works - Acting Chief Education Officer 

“Efforts were made to complete the renovation in time for the reopening of the 2023-2024 school year; however, we regret to inform you that due to delays on the project, the renovations will not be completed in time,” the letter detailed. 

Crabbe added it has become a necessity to postpone the start of the school term for that school by one week and the new date for orientation for the new and transfer students will be on Monday, September 18, 2023.

She said the first day of class is Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

The Acting Chief Education Officer apologised for the inconvenience caused; however, she added that the ministry is committed to ensuring that the school environment is safe and conducive to teaching and learning.

19 Responses to “Incomplete renovation works delay re-opening of Joyce Samuel Primary School”

  • Real People (08/09/2023, 11:16) Like (3) Dislike (13) Reply
    At the end of the day once the environment for kids and teachers are at a high safety and productivity it's understandable what's being done
    • UTTER NONSENSE!!!!!!! (09/09/2023, 00:29) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      So you mean to tell us that:

      1. They did not know this a month or weeks ago that they could not finish in time instead of waiting last minute to inform the parents/guardians?????
      2. There is NO CONTINGENCY PLAN???!??!!!!
      3. $250,000 WASTED ON A CONCERT when it could have gone towards ENSURING THE SCHOOL WAS REPAIRED IN A TIMELY MANNER!!!!!


      The teachers ought to be at the Multipurpose Complex, Community Centres, somewhere with the students learning for this entire week where the children should have been in school.

      It does not have to be in school attire but an extra week of Summer Camp utilizing the teachers and learning in a fun way.

      YEP could also be utilized having some students attend for the week with some teachers present.

      Some parents have jobs, probably no extra vacation days to stay at home and may not get paid for this extra week.

      Some children are in abusive homes and homes with no proper supervision and were looking forward to school.
  • Your voice (08/09/2023, 11:35) Like (1) Dislike (10) Reply
    The coi has killed the bvib
    • @Your voice (08/09/2023, 13:48) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      To be more precise you mean the UK through their Governor under the false cloak of good governance.
      • @ @Your voice (09/09/2023, 05:13) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        You mean our own greedy politicians with overspending over the years and lining family and friends pockets, leaving us with insufficient funds for necessary works to our infrastructure, schools and other important areas, is the cause of all we are dealing with.
        If the COI didn’t come in only God knows how we would be surviving. We are barely surviving now as it is.
        Remember The Drew when they were the opposition, constantly visiting the then Governor insisting that the then Government NDP should be investigated for corruption, even sending letters to the UK asking the same. Well, the investigation happened with the COI and look at what was revealed. Don’t go blaming the UK and the COI for what we did to ourselves.
        You appear to be the type of person who, if your wife/husband caught you cheating, you would blame her/him for what YOU did wrong.
        We have to accept the responsibility for our own wrongdoing and stop blaming everyone else.
        Stop trying to pull the wool over our eyes in the name of independence.
        You can fool some of us some of the time but you can’t fool all of us all of the time.
  • fedup (08/09/2023, 11:36) Like (36) Dislike (0) Reply
    this is how they prioritize the education of our children, all summer to complete some renovations.
  • What’s more important? (08/09/2023, 12:02) Like (10) Dislike (5) Reply
    The money that most of you enjoy on June 30th, 2023 could have fixed this. Anyone who attended the concert( got paid from that concert will inherit a curse for supporting wickedness. When things ain’t going according just note it’s the karma.
  • WHAT!!!! (08/09/2023, 12:11) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    MoE is a joke. They had to know about this for a long time.
  • Surprised? (08/09/2023, 12:55) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whats this a deadline was missed in the BVI? Im shocked and outraged.
  • BS (08/09/2023, 13:06) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    School out since June month end.
  • facts (08/09/2023, 13:21) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is upsetting. The children will be behind in work and teachers will be forcing concepts down their throat. The lack of communication from the school is concerning because when school was closing, they could have said that they would be renovating parts of the school. Nothing was said, now here we are. We could have been more understanding if something was said in advance.

    We just need to go drop off our children down by the ministry at this point.
  • Lilly (08/09/2023, 13:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow!
  • Pure BS (08/09/2023, 14:44) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sickening
  • Mustang (08/09/2023, 16:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well saw!! Was this a Public Works project and if so what do you expect? Was there a schedule of work (SoW) with a hard/concrete completion date? Was a project manager assigned to the job who should have been tracking the progress and working with contractor to ensure project was complete and useable by due date? Was the material for project procured and on site/island before work started ? This was a simple project what sort of delay was encountered? Could the contractor work overtime to finish the project on time? Was the completion time underestimated? Was the work plan before school let out?
    • RealPol (09/09/2023, 11:08) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Mustang, you talking the language of construction and construction contracting. Indeed, this was a relatively simple project. It seems like every government contract whether simple, major ,etc always come in over budget and not on time. Why is this? Are contrscyirs underbidding to secure the contract, hoping to get more money through change orders? Does government perform a government estimate on every contract to compare bids with, to ensure bids are fair and reasonable.
  • resident (08/09/2023, 16:41) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    As we continue full STEAM ahead. Clap clap. Ministry of Education. We had two months out and still teachers are returning to classrooms that are in deplorable conditions. Better needs to be done. All talk and no work.
    • @resident (09/09/2023, 21:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hon. H. Lavity Stoutt did say that’ “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” If we are not being led by the most “blind and educated fools” then we really don’t understand, what our former Chief Minister was talking about.
  • Yes (10/09/2023, 16:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All these things they know about being she was once the principal there .she should be a shame to say any thing of such...
    All these people who in high holding position could push hatder and do better.
    As far as i see once it come to the vip ministers these ndp people civil servants will do anything stall projects ext.
    I am sure the the minister education brief each and eber one
    about any thing todo with up coming school..buttjwy so nad mimd they do any thimg to make her look bad..

    Remember election time they went so far to tear of the face of her poster they want to kill her dead so it aint got nothing that these qicked people wouldnt do orlandette poor excuse
    You too shoul be hold accounterble


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