Education Minister Randolph Horton yesterday warned Whitney Institute Middle School that Government had powers to step in and take over.

Mr. Horton said the school's Board of Trustees were "obliged under the Whitney Educational Trust Act 1974 to provide and maintain a fit and proper facility for their students". If they failed to do so, he said "the Ministry of Education will take the necessary steps to ensure that students are educated in a fit and proper environment".

The Minister was speaking in reaction to an e-mail from principal Freddie Evans, in which he advised staff to remove all their belongings in preparation of the school's closure. The message was described as "shocking" by Mr. Horton on Sunday. He also accused the trustees of trying to "cause upheaval".

Talks appeared to be moving toward an amicable settlement last month, with an agreement in principle announced on May 22 which pointed to Government carrying out renovations.

The trustees originally wrote to the Education Ministry in May, arguing that the termite-infested school was unsafe and would close at the end of June unless Government auctioned emergency renovations. Complaints from staff included rats, poor plumbing, slippery floors, lack of a disabled access, a faulty fire alarm and falling light fixtures.

Plans to renovate the aided public school were approved in October 2006, at a cost of $35 million, but major refurbishment projects have never materialised.

Following Dr. Evans's e-mail last week, Mr. Horton said yesterday: "The Ministry of Education is very concerned about the condition of the Whitney Institute Middle School facility.

"The Ministry is in communication with the Whitney Institute Board of Trustees, who are obliged under the Whitney Educational Trust Act 1974 to provide and maintain a fit and proper facility for their students. This requires the cooperation of the Whitney Trustees working together with the Ministry of Education.

"If however, the Trustees are unable to ensure the premises and school plant are adequately equipped for the benefit of the students and the public, the Ministry of Education will take the necessary steps to ensure that students are educated in a fit and proper environment."

Asked whether this meant Government could close the school down, Mr. Horton said: "I have spoken on that in my statement."