A plan for the renaming of the Pares Secondary School is already causing some contention among residents. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.
On the weekend, a widely circulated notice advised that the Cabinet has agreed to change the name of the institution to the Cardinal King Secondary School.
At first, many people thought the change was in recognition of the now-retired police officer of the same name.
However, it was later explained that the honour belonged to the Cardinal King who had served as the school’s first principal. He is credited with leading a team of teachers who set the standard for the school, which opened its doors in 1971.
Past students reported that the job had not been an easy one for those staff members, given that children of very different abilities comprised the first student body.
But while King is said to have accomplished great things at the school, an alumnus agrees that more information should have been disseminated, so that the public would be aware of his contributions to education in Antigua and Barbuda.
Amid claims that the name change was approved without consultation with teachers, parents and the wider community, it was reported that past students had lobbied Education Minister Daryll Matthew, and he had taken the matter to the Cabinet.
According to a member of a Pares Secondary alumni association, a review of the school’s operations had been undertaken, with weaknesses identified and remedies proposed.
Among the former was the loss of school pride, which was blamed on “changes in leadership within [a] short period of time.”
Therefore, it was recommended that the school be rebranded, with a school crest introduced and its uniforms redesigned.
According to the sketches seen by REAL News, the female uniform will become a pleated burgundy skirt trimmed in yellow; a white crested shirt; and a burgundy-and-yellow striped tie.
The crest is also in burgundy and yellow and carries the name “Cardinal King Secondary School;” the year it was established; and a hand holding a torch atop an open book. Its banner proclaims “CKSS” and displays the motto “True Knowledge is Light.” — REAL News
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If you check on Facebook and other social platforms, quite a large number of past students are against these changes. Why are the ones who approached cabinet being listened to over the others?
I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all… Change can be good… I have seen the drawings and they are really really good… Way to go!!
Most of the persons on fb objecting was mainly because they thought it was Cardinal King the policeman. Now this article has cleared some issues for me. I am now learning it was the former principal . I see nothing wrong with the name change.
As proud past student of Pares Secondary School y’all failed it miserable!! Parents Secondary School has always always been left behind. It was even once been labled the “school behind God’s back” Changing the name and uniform won’t do anything. Improving the environment and fixing up the physical structure of the school is what is needed.
Pares**
Pares Secondary school reminds me correction center for delinquent teens, that is not run properly. The school plant is deplorable-dirty. The environment is unhealthy. I was once attending a meeting at Pares Secondary when a message come from the primary school that the secondary school was disturbing, with the noise level. I later found out the the primary school was a few hundred meters north east of the secondary school. As usual the government only care about the town schools Mr.Die-Ret- tooore of education you are doing a very poor job .
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