Parents of students in St George’s were told last night about plans for a huge shake-up of schooling in the East End.

Officials from the Ministry of Education said at a meeting at East End Primary School that St David's Primary School and St George's Preparatory School will close in June 2024 as part of education reform plans.

East End Primary will also close in June 2024, but parents were told a rebuild would take place at the site so the school can reopen in September 2026 as a parish primary school.

“For the full two school years commencing September 2024 through to June 2026, the St George’s Parish primary school children will function as a primary school at the Whitney Institute in order to rebuild here at East End Primary School,” said a ministry official.

Parents were also told that Whitney would close as a middle school in 2025.

The move is part of reforms that will see one primary school in each parish, except for Pembroke, which will have two.

Attendees voiced immediate anger and frustration at the announcement, stating they felt there had been a lack of consultation.

Several of the estimated 200 parents in attendance raised concerns about the impact of repeatedly transferring students between schools, the costs of uniforms and the challenges of transportation.

While an official said vouchers could be offered to parents to help cover the cost of uniforms, one mother said that she already pays $700 per child for uniforms.

Many also questioned why St George’s Preparatory School or St David’s Primary could not be used to house the students.

One parent got a standing ovation after he told officials: “We are telling you, we are not asking you. We are tired of asking you.

“We are telling you what we want to happen with our tax dollars. Our people in the east will have our children educated in the east.”

A grandparent, meanwhile, questioned the likelihood of the new school being completed within two years, noting the delays in the construction of The Berkeley Institute, and asked what would be done if the school was not ready on schedule.

Another parent questioned why the change needed to be made now, noting that students already had their education disrupted by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other parents questioned what work would be needed at Whitney Institute to house the influx of primary school students; however, officials responded that because of the work to phase out middle schools, Whitney would have only one year of students, and those students would be kept separate from the primary students.

Several attendees also questioned the absence of Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, whom they were told was unable to attend the meeting because he was travelling.

However, the audience was shown a pre-recorded video presentation in which the minister emphasised the intention of the school reform process to create an education system the island can be proud of.

“By June 2027, you can expect to see all middle schools phased out and by September 2029, all ten parish primary schools will be fully operational, each with three preschool streams,” he said in the recording.

“By September 2029, all four signature schools will be operational, each with five years of senior schooling, and the exceptionalities and alternative education signature schools will be open.

“As we continue the education reform process, I want parents, teachers and our students to be reassured that the work does not stop as we navigate this transition.”

Ministry officials told attendees that their concerns would be taken under consideration.

“We have heard you. We are going to do what we can do and go back with this information,” parents were told.