Parents Anxiously Await Reopening of Nazareth House Primary School

Over 200 students at Nazareth House Primary School in Londonderry are staying at home this Thursday due to safety issues related to the school’s roof, which led to its closure.

The Education Authority (EA) has stated that urgent repairs are being prioritized to facilitate a swift reopening. However, parents like Terri Lamberton are expressing their concerns about the duration of this closure.

Lamberton, who has two children enrolled at the school, including her seven-year-old son Daniel with special educational needs, noted, “For my child, who has specific challenges, maintaining a routine is crucial. His ability to learn will be significantly impacted by this absence from school.”

She added, “I am deeply worried about how long this will last. He is a very anxious little boy, constantly asking when school will resume and questioning why it has closed.”

Daniel shared his feelings, saying, “I’m really sad and miss all my friends, my classroom assistants, my teacher, and my principal.”

The school initially shut down on Wednesday following an inspection that deemed the roof unsafe.

Lamberton described the situation as a shocking development, which left families with minimal time to prepare for the sudden closure.

For her 10-year-old daughter Gail, the primary worries are her education and the absence of daily interactions with her peers. “I feel quite sad not being able to see my friends,” she explained. “I’m also anxious about being in P6 and getting ready for my transfer test. It’s really upsetting.”

Her mother expressed that they feel devastated and are uncertain about how long this disruption will continue.

“We have a strong community, and I encourage parents to remain patient and supportive of Nazareth House during this time,” she remarked.

The building, located on Bishop Street, has been in existence since 1902. Principal Róisín Blackery stated that concerns regarding the structural integrity of the school have been raised for the past 20 years.

She revealed that a proposal for a new roof was submitted to the EA in 2017, but it has yet to be addressed. “We have continuously reported issues like dampness and peeling wallpaper to the EA,” Blackery added.

The Catholic Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, who leads the governing body of the school, criticized the lack of funding for maintenance in the education sector. He emphasized that this issue is a symptom of broader underfunding and called for a reevaluation of financial support for schools.

“This situation was inevitable; we knew something like this would occur eventually,” McKeown stated. “If we neglect our children now, we will face greater challenges in the future.”

Sinn Féin assembly member Pádraig Delargy described the current circumstances as a distressing time for everyone involved, especially with the holiday season approaching.

“The school is simply seeking a practical solution that minimizes disruption to the educational experience of its students,” he remarked. “It is imperative that the Department of Education and the EA address this concern and similar challenges faced by other schools.”

The EA expressed significant concern regarding the increasing backlog of maintenance and repairs needed throughout Northern Ireland’s schools, attributed to insufficient funding.

A spokesperson stated, “Due to current budget constraints, we can only conduct emergency repairs. This is becoming an unsustainable situation. Without a substantial increase in funding, our school facilities will continue to deteriorate, leading to further disruptions in education.”

The Department of Education has been approached for a statement regarding the ongoing situation.