SIF to provide new building to Ranchito Government school

Yesenia Tun

While it is subtle, it is also apparent that the Ministry of Education is not willing to accept the blame for the situation at the Ranchito Government Primary School. But neither is Principal Yesenia Tun. She told News Five today that teachers, along with the school committee, have been working non-stop to deal with the problems of infestation for years. And as to the infrastructure problems, Tun says that they took those on also, and when their efforts were not enough, she went so far as to apply to SIF for a new school building.

Yesenia Tun, Principal, Ranchito Government School

“I sent my application to SIF in 2012 and this year, we formed our school committee and we looked at the problem that we are presently having and the chairperson said let’s fundraise—that was in September—to fix at least one of the buildings. So we started fundraising, but then when one of the parents went up to check, he  told us you know what, we can’t touch anything because the boards at the top are already rotten and if we touch them, everything will collapse. But we were so lucky enough that during that same time, during the month of October, Mister Mendez came to us and he said, you know what Miss Tun, the application you have sent to SIF has been approved. Well it is not actually approved, but is being in process. He said, don’t look for any help; we will try and see if we can address your issue. But actually I had just asked for repairs to the building; I hadn’t asked for a new building. But when the personnel from SIF came and they looked at the condition, they said that that is not repairs that you need; you need a new building which I agreed with them as well, but I at least wanted it for it to be repaired for the meantime. So they said, we will work with you to see if we can get the building for you and that is what we have been working right now with SIF to see if we can get that building done by 2015.”

The new school building should cost in the region of one million dollars. The school will be expected to raise five percent of that as their contribution.