by Bria King

A new structure, which took less than one month to construct, will be the temporary home for over 300 students attending the Calliaqua Anglican Primary School.

The school opened for the first day of school yesterday in its temporary location on the premises of the St Paul’s Anglican Church at Calliaqua.

According to a Facebook post made by Camillo Gonsalves, the minister of finance and area representative for East St George, the structure took 18 working days to be built.

“This has been a great improvement in terms of what we had down at Calliaqua. There we were cramped for space and at this school, we have space,” Corsel Smith, the school’s principal said. “We were bursting at both ends, at the seams and people keep coming and I have to turn them back. So the quality has improved even though it’s simple and it was long overdue that Calliaqua has this kind of accommodation.”

This new structure is the temporary new home to over 300 Calliaqua Anglican School students. Inset left is school’s principal Corsel Smith. (Also see Front Page)

The school was relocated in anticipation of a project being funded by CDB’s Basic Needs Trust Fund which will see extensive repairs being done to the Calliaqua Anglican Primary School, Park Hill Government School and the New Grounds Primary School.

The temporary structure consists of four buildings organised in a square pattern. In these buildings, there are 10 classrooms for 12 classes, bathroom facilities, the main office and a staff room. There is also a water fountain area at the back.

“The kitchen is still at the old school and we have already made provisions where they have to transport up the lunches and so forth,” Smith said.

The principal, who was making the rounds to ensure that all classes were settled in, said that some persons may try to find flaws to say why these accommodations are not better. But she said that most persons, including teachers are satisfied.

And she expressed confidence that everyone will be fully adjusted by the end of this week.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited the school yesterday, parents were milling around in classrooms and on the compound,ensuring that their children were settled for the first day of school, and observing the new surroundings.

“I think it’s good. Seeing this structure this morning, I’m pleased about it,” Desrie Phillips told SEARCHLIGHT.

The Choppins resident said that she has two children going to the Calliaqua Anglican Primary School and she is pleased that they are comfortable in the new space.

Veronica Charles, whose grandchild attends the primary school, also had positive things to say about the facilities.

“I think they have done a great job. it gave me goosebumps when I arrived here this morning. I have my granddaughter going to this school and it was very surprising. I think the prime minister and whosoever, they have done a remarkable job,” she said. “This has nothing to do with any political issues. The fact is…they have done a great job. The bathroom is in a good state, everything is perfect and I’m well satisfied.”

Gonsalves’ Facebook post said that work on the temporary buildings commenced on August 17 and work was done six days a week. There was also a 2-day interruption due to preparations for the passage of Tropical Storm Dorian.