Is this the way a school should be handed over?

Dear Editor,

The newly built Pine Street Nursery School located in Industrial Area Linden is closely surrounded by bush which needs to be properly cleared, making the school less hidden and more in clear view.

The area is low and whenever it rains it becomes swampy. With a creek nearby it needs to be constantly cleared, since it serves as an excellent breeding ground for snakes and reptiles. Quite recently a large snake was seen in the school compound, creating much panic – and not for the first time.

The teachers are now apprehensive and reluctant to allow the children to freely play about.

One of the entrances to the school is from the David Rose Avenue which takes one into the Linden Highway. Except for the zebra sign/crossing, there is nothing to indicate that a nursery school is across the road, no school sign, no speed limit, no hump to lessen speed. Vehicles keep blasting by, large timber trucks and all, some even racing, totally ignoring the pedestrian sign which is in the middle of two curves. Minibuses/cars only slow down/stop when they are letting off or picking up person(s) from the school or those who live in the area. Also this very entrance road leading to the school is very short but is fit only for fair weather and deplorable when it rains.

Why should these things only be addressed when someone calls them into question? Isn’t there anyone who cares? Is this the way a school is built and handed over without a thorough observation of its surrounding conditions? Whose responsibility is it to ensure that the needed signs are in place? What does the Education Department have to say and the other relevant authorities?

Yours faithfully,

Frank Fyffe