Dr Gonsalves criticizes NDP over delay to start of the new school year
OPPOSITION LEADER, Ralph Gonsalves, has sharply criticized the New Democratic Party (NDP) for its lack of preparation ahead of the start of the new school year. He declared that the Unity Labour Party(ULP) administration had managed school preparations far better in 2001, when they took office, despite having significantly less time to complete the work.The 2026–2027 academic year was initially slated to begin on Monday, August 31, 2026.
However, the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Innovation, Digital Transformation and Information has pushed back the reopening date by one week to Monday, September 7, 2026. The ministry said the adjustment was made to give schools additional preparation time and to allow parents and guardians to make use of the government’s back-to-school VAT-Free shopping day on August 28, 2026.
Speaking on Star FM, August 17, the former prime minister argued that postponing the start of the school year demonstrates the NDP’s weak leadership.
“The NDP did not come to office in the month of June or July…to say they came to office very late before the school term is supposed to start.”
Instead, he noted that the NDP took office at the end of November 2025. “You want to tell me you can’t prepare to open the school on August 31 when you have seven months before August starts,” he questioned.
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