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Hon. Espat (Toledo West) Says New Schools Create New Needs
posted (October 24, 2014)
Last week - SIF and the Ministry of Education opened up two school buildings in the remote reaches of the Toledo District, namely Aguacate and Corazon. These are villages with new school buildings, providing major relief for school children who in the past would have to travel hours by road just to get to school.

But Toledo East representative Mike Espat said that there are some unintended consequences. He said the presence of a school has forced some of the children's parents to go work in the banana industry just to pay their children's fees. He explained:..

Hon. Mike Espat, PUP Toledo East
"What high school has done to them is put a lot more expenditure that they did not have before, so now they have to go look for a job and now you also have kids going to UB which takes the price up a lot higher."

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but it's not that you are opposed to the education?"

Hon. Mike Espat, PUP Toledo East
"We can't, we came out of the classroom. I spent 17 years of my life in a classroom, so why would I be opposed to it?"

Jules Vasquez
"So now you who have seen the transformation of that area because you know what kids had to go through to get to school, it is a...."

Hon. Mike Espat, PUP Toledo East
"It was the People's United Party that introduced bussing for those kids to go to school."

Jules Vasquez
"Yes, but we don't want to play politics because then UDP will say that we put the school so they don't have to take the bus anymore."

Hon. Mike Espat, PUP Toledo East
"Mike Espat put the road with the PUP. They would not be able to get to school today if the PUP did not set the foundation and this is what you must understand."

Jules Vasquez
"Well I can't compliment you for doing your job."

Hon. Mike Espat, PUP Toledo East
"Well we never had to do it, but we did it nonetheless."

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