Ms Ann Piggott:

In addition to 25% of our schools not having hot water, there are other startling statistics, including that 84% of schools have poor ventilation systems. Our schools are also totally overcrowded. For example, a school built for 450 students may now have 600 or more students. That is a problem, so much so that in schools that have been reconfigured, teachers do not have a room in which to hold staff meetings.

Staff are eating lunch in their cars and they are bringing everything with them in their cars because they do not have their own rooms anymore.

I want to refer to what Mr. Pike said about isolation rooms. There is no room for isolation areas. Some schools are using log cabins or converted and old shower rooms. The problem with that is that if more than one student is sick - and this will occur. In huge schools, one could have four students at the same time. One student might have Covid, one might have hay fever, one might have a cough and there may be somebody else who does not have his homework done and does not want to be in class. They cannot all be put in the same area. Isolation means just one. I am worried about that and glad that it was brought up.

We have discussed space. We constantly bring it up in meetings with the Department. We would like to meet the Minister on several issues.