Education officials host townhall meeting over secondary school merger

It was a packed house earlier this week as the Ministry of Education met with parents and other relevant stakeholders over the imminent merger of the Glanvilles and Pares Secondary Schools.

Education Minister Daryll Matthew and two senior officials of the Ministry hosted a Town Hall meeting at the Glanvilles Secondary School on Monday to provide information and qualm any major concerns.

Director of Education Clare Browne was one of the two senior officials present and assured parents that the ministry is committed to ensuring that it is a smooth transition for all students and faculty.

“The school is in in good condition and the school would be in even better condition before the summer ends,” Browne said.

While assurances were made, many in the public have condemned the ministry for their handling of the matter as decisions were made before any consultations took place with parents and other stakeholders.

Those same grievances were shared on Monday evening.

It was back in June that news broke about the proposal for the merger of the two secondary schools due to their low student population.

Dr. Jonah Greene reported to the Cabinet that the merger is essential due to declining enrolment numbers at both institutions.

Glanvilles Secondary School currently has 163 students, while Pares Secondary School has 178 students.

These figures have resulted in unsustainably small class sizes and underutilized subject offerings, prompting the need for consolidation.

Dr. Greene reassured Cabinet members that the merger will not disrupt students or staff. All current students from Glanvilles will be accommodated at Pares Secondary School, while teachers will either be reassigned to other educational institutions or retained within the Ministry of Education system.

As part of the overall transition, the Cabinet also endorsed a recommendation from the Ministry to repurpose Glanvilles Secondary School as the new home for the School of Agriculture.

This strategic move aligns with the Government’s broader commitment to enhancing food security and increasing access to specialized agricultural education and training.

Glanvilles Secondary School is well-equipped to support this new direction, featuring essential facilities such as a Home Economics Department, a Science Laboratory, animal pens, a hydroponic unit, and established farm plots.

The proposal was approved by Cabinet and since then plans are in motion to prepare for the new academic year which begins in September.

Assessment teams have been actively evaluating the infrastructure of both schools.

Their goal is to identify necessary upgrades to ensure that the newly merged institution provides a safe and welcoming environment for all students.