Whitney Institute principal Freddie Evans last night praised Government for completing his wish list in a six-week resurrection of his school.

Education Minister Randolph Horton yesterday revealed Whitney would remain closed until next Monday as renovations continue at the decrepit facility which this summer had appeared doomed to permanent closure.

But Dr. Evans told Government no apology was necessary for the delay — such is his delight at what he described as the transformation of a 19th Century schoolhouse into a 21st Century educational facility.

"What's been done around here has been truly amazing. For that, I'm very excited and truly grateful," Dr. Evans told The Royal Gazette.

"I thought we would get band aids. We did not. We got the resurrection of a school building. If I had a wish list of what could be done, the wishlist has basically been completed."

Teachers had complained of rats, termites, slippery floors, faulty wiring and falling light fixtures, with Dr. Evans saying there had been problems for many years.

Improvements include mending lights and window frames, plumbing, air conditioning and installation of a fire alarm, while the fixing of the gym roof and the design and technology room are nearing completion.

During an afternoon press conference, Mr. Horton apologised for the failure to complete a $1.5 million summer renovation package on time.

"From the onset, I believe that all of us, the parents, trustees, administration, faculty and the Ministry, knew that our delayed start of the renovations this summer would pose challenges that would need all of our collective participation to overcome," said Mr. Horton.

"The Ministry of Works and engineering and their legion of construction contractors have worked tirelessly and around the clock over the summer and remain feverishly at work. That said, I accept the apology of my fellow Minister (Derrick Burgess) and I appreciate the time and effort he and his technical team have assigned this project. Now, we must finish the job."

Dr. Evans replied last night: "Although all persons associated with the project are disappointed with the delay, this disappointment in no way diminishes the appreciation and debt of gratitude of the teachers, administrators and trustees of Whitney for the outstanding efforts of the Works and Engineering team."

Dr. Evans said he would make it his responsibility to ensure pupils do not lose out because of the delay, and that the school's social calendar would be aligned in due course.

In June, a long-running row between the Ministry of Education and Whitney's trustees over refurbishments threatened to culminate in the school's registration being withdrawn.

In the end they reached a deal in which the board committed to the education system until 2013, and the Ministry pledged to pay for repairs.