The only Bicentennial School delivered is rapidly deteriorating – 2024-03-18 16:20:45

The only Bicentenario School that has been delivered is in Escuintla, on the La Industria farm, located at km 58.1 of the highway that connects with Puerto San José.

It was inaugurated in February 2022, but it was not until the 2023 school year that it was enabled for use by the educational community. After a year of being in operation, the infrastructure is already reporting damage, not due to use, but due to the poor quality of the materials and construction, as pointed out by teachers and parents.

The educational facility is attended by survivors of the Fuego volcano eruption in 2018, who were relocated to the La Dignidad neighborhood, Escuintla, and students from six other villages.

The school has the capacity to receive 1,075 students., as established by the rules of the event in Guatecompras. It has nine classrooms for pre-primary and 23 for primary school. However, this year’s enrollment is 610 students at both levels, so not all classrooms are enabled. The reason is that there are not enough teachers.

Marisol Contreras, director of the Republic of China-Taiwan school, as she was named, maintains that lThe construction was unfinished when it was inaugurated.

“I accepted the keys to the school on the instructions of the acting minister at that time, but we did not sign anything… it was not received,” he clarifies.

On February 21, 2022, what was expected to be the event to begin the school year became the inauguration of the facilities with the presence of the authorities of the Ministry of Education (Mineduc), the Communications portfolio and the President Alejandro Giammattei.

Computers were brought to the event to equip the room, but were later removed. There were also digital screens in the classrooms for the official visit that were later removed.

The false ceiling that was placed in the primary area is deteriorating due to water leaks. (Free Press Photo: María Renné Barrientos)

Obvious damage

Two years following it was inaugurated, water is seeping into the walls, built with PVC panels. “We have to draw the water in the morning, before starting classes,” says Contreras, who acknowledges that repairs have been made since the first year of use.

With the rain, andThe false ceiling in the primary area was damaged, the paint has mold and the floor of the sports field is uneven and water pools when it rains.. The rainwater channels and gutters are not enough and cause flooding.

The walls that were built with PVC panels show water leaks at the joints when it rains. (Free Press Photo: Ana Lucía Ola)

In the pre-primary area there is a playground with games, but these are not appropriate for the height of the children. The ball pit that was placed is made of concrete and is not lined, which represents a danger to the students, despite this they use it.

The stairwells have been repaired on several occasions. (Free Press Photo: María Reneé Barrientos)

Windows, stairs, doors and concrete tables in the gardens have already deteriorated.

Although the school has space for a kitchen, the stove only has two burners in use and preparing food for 610 students is impossible.

The stage that was set up for cultural activities is deteriorating a year following the school is used by students. (Free Press Photo: Ana Lucía Ola)

When the establishment was inaugurated, the electricity connection was made directly from a light pole that is on the street. Only last June did the director begin the procedures to have the service. AND Although it has constant water, it is not drinkable.

The school was awarded for Q34 million and in the end Q47 million was paid.

The tables that were placed in a garden broke following a year of use. (Free Press Photo: María Reneé Barrientos)