<B>By Pauline ETIENNE</B>

The world has turned upside down. The ministry of Education is about to close down the primary school of Chitrakoot because it could be dangerous for children. According to a report by the ministry, repair works will not be enough to make the building appropriate for classes and there is no other way than closing it down.

Parents should be happy to note that the authorities are aware of the environment in which their small children are growing up everyday and take remedial action when they believe the environment is not safe. They should be reassured that the ministry takes their children?s safety into so much consideration that it does not hesitate to close down a school if it feels there is danger.

But, instead of that, parents keep complaining that their children will have to stay at home. Obviously, the ministry will have to cater for the lack of space and find a way of relocating all the pupils. It is the duty and responsibility of the ministry to make sure children are not left on their own and provide each of them proper education. Just like it is its duty to make sure this education is provided in a safe environment.

Parents, who are supposed to be the ones to care the most for their children, should take this decision to close the school seriously and not ask the ministry to change its mind. The lives of their little ones could be at risk.

We can understand that those parents are emotionally attached to that building since it has been part of the landscape for years now. The ministry should make sure it builds a brand new school on the same site.

But, for the time being, it seems there is no choice: it has to be pulled down.

In fact, if all parents had been clearly explained the reasons for the closing, I am sure the inhabitants would not have reacted so badly. If, right at the beginning, they had been told that their children would be relocated in such or such school and given details about transport arrangements, they would certainly not have grumbled.

Or if they had, they would have based their grumbling on solid grounds instead of blindly going at the government.

But the authorities in this country have the bad habit of letting things rot before meeting people and giving them clear explanations. This is what happened at the university of Mauritius and led to such a disastrous beginning of the year for students. Instead of reaching such a chaotic situation on the Campus, discussions to explain the situation could have led to a consensus.

In the case of Chitrakoot, there could be no compromise on children?s safety. If a report states that the school should close down, there is no alternative. But communication would have reassured parents that their children would get proper education. I suppose this is all they are asking for?