Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh has called a meeting with the country's school supervisors and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA) tomorrow.

It comes after allegations by TTUTA that Gopeesingh did not properly inform the public about how many schools were actually ready for opening on Monday.

In a telephone yesterday, TTUTA President Roustan Job said all principals informed their school supervisors about the readiness of their specific schools.

"Instead of making those statements...consult with the supervisors...they were informed by the principals," he said.

Gopeesingh maintains that his Ministry was not aware of decisions taken by principals of the Newtown Girls' RC Primary School, Newtown Boys' RC Primary School, Queen's Royal College, Princes Town RC Primary School and Salazar Government Primary to keep the schools closed.

"The supervisors only informed the Ministry on Monday, after the schools were already closed," he said in a telephone interview while touring the Newtown Girls' RC School yesterday.

On Monday he blamed a breakdown in communication between principals and his Ministry for pupils being inconvenienced after meeting closed schools. He said if principals made decisions without informing the Ministry, there would be serious consequences.

"There will have to be disciplinary action taken. I as the Minister of Education have been very firm on that matter. I intend to be very (firm) as far as school supervision is concerned, as far as vice-principals are concerned, and I am going to look into the question of absenteeism and unpunctuality and irregular attendance by all principals and all teachers," he said.

Job, who returned to the country yesterday from vacation in New York, said under the Education Act, Sections 27, principals are responsible for "the supervision of the physical safety of pupils".

"The principals are well within their right," he said.

"If you know the area is unsafe and you go in there and get injured and claim insurance you won't get full benefit. Principals are in charge and they can exercise their own deliberate judgment if safe."

On the other hand, he said the ministry should look at conducting school repairs during the school year and not wait specifically for the August vacation to get started.

"It should be something that is ongoing, look at it after hours, when the Chinese were here they were working under lights, so this can be done," he said.

Meanwhile, Princes Town RC, Salazar Trace and Newtown Girls' RC remain closed.

At Newtown Girls', however, callers were greeted by an automated voice message indicating them that school would reopen next Monday for everyone except first year pupils. Classes for the first year pupils will begin next Tuesday.

Over at Queen's Royal College, classes commenced today, but pupils are being advised that they would need to wear their polo T-shirts and khaki pants due to the unsanitary condition at the school.

As for Newtown Boys' RC, officials at the school are letting parents know that if they send their children to school, it's at their own risk since the school only has four toilets in operation, and the building infested with cockroaches and mosquitoes.