By Francine Black, Staff ReporterTHE NEW furniture which Government started delivering to primary schools at the start of the school year in September, have begun falling apart, according to the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA).
JTA General Secretary Patrick Smith said he has received a number of complaints from schools about the problem.
The wooden desks in question which are intended to hold two students, were delivered to grades one and two. In recent years the local manufacturing companies have replaced the wooden tops with metal tops. Screws are used to attach the tops to the other part of the desk but they are reportedly falling out causing the desks to disintegrate.
Wesley Barrett, chief education officer at the Ministry of Education, said from time to time they have received reports that some furniture have had pieces of them fail. The Ministry usually responds by referring the matter to the manufacturers who will remedy the problems.
The JTA, however, points out that this is a very serious issue. "Furniture shortage is the perennial problem affecting our schools," Mr. Smith said. "It is affecting the type of education students receive."
Up to two months ago, inner-city schools had expressed concern about the shortage of desks which has resulted in students being turned away. High schools have also felt the effects of the shortage as at one school in Hanover students reportedly break assembly lines to stampede for chairs.
The shortage has also been worsened by theft which continues to plague the schools. The JTA is calling for a solution to what it said was an islandwide problem which continues to place a strain on schools' limited resources.
