Relocation of Ministry of Education

SOME EMPLOYEES OF the Ministry of Education are still on the premises of the administrative buildings, which were deemed unsafe for work, having become infected with mould.

After a picket by staff in the affected buildings and a meeting between the Public Service Union, their bargaining agent, and Ministry of Education representatives, it was decided that the workers would be moved to two locations, Arnos Vale to the former Teachers College, and upstairs the Flow building in Kingstown over the course of last week and into the weekend of Saturday, April 26, 2025. However, the process has not yet been completed; but the workers are no longer in the portions of the affected buildings.

Public Relations Officer of the PSU, Desrita Gilkes said on Wednesday, April 30, that they had not received official word from the ministry, but heard from workers that the facility at Arnos Vale lacks the space needed to accommodate all the staff, resulting in some workers staying in Kingstown.

With respect to space upstairs the Flow building in Kingstown, Gilkes told SEARCHLIGHT that the Ministry is still interested in housing some of its staff there; however, nothing official had been decided up to press time. This is where the rest of the staff is expected to be housed by this weekend.

“They are still evaluating that decision,” Gilkes remarked.

The affected employees have, however, moved to the lower building on the same compound, abandoning the two upper affected buildings, and they are working in rotation, Gilkes explained.

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