At least two of the four primary school principals accused of disrespect and indiscipline by Minister of Education Tim Gopeesingh, for closing their schools on Monday, followed Ministry policy and were guilty of nothing.

This is according to president of the National Primary School Principals Association, Vijay Jagroop, who said Gopeesingh should have the facts before making inflammatory remarks.

On Monday, the first day of the new school term, Gopeesingh slammed the principals of South Oropouche Roman Catholic School, Salazar Trace Government Primary School, Princes Town Roman Catholic School and the Guaico Government Primary School for keeping their schools closed without the Ministry's knowledge or consent.

Jagroop yesterday appealed to the Education Minister to refrain from making "inflammatory remarks without having full facts" because "this will not augur well for good relations".

He said, "We are a bit perplexed that the Minister is saying that the principals never communicated to the Ministry on the closure of their schools."

Jagroop said he contacted the South Oropouche RC School and Salazar Trace Government Primary Schools and both principals followed protocol, and were in no way culpable for closing the schools.

"I have not heard from the other two schools, but the first two schools informed the Ministry through certificates of readiness sent to the St Patrick Education District Office that their schools were in jeopardy of not being ready," he said.

Jagroop said the roof of the Salazar Trace Government Primary School was replaced during the vacation and the school was left "in a mess". The principal, he said, only received responses from the school supervisors on Monday after 10 a.m. although the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL) and the Education Facilities Management Division (EFMD) had visited the school over the weekend.

At the South Oropouche RC the flooring was replaced because of a termite infestation.

Jagroop said, "The furniture was removed by the EFCL and they (the school) did not receive any furniture to replace it."

However, he said the school principal and the school supervisors were able to source a few benches for some of the classes at the school yesterday.

"The Ministry said they would put things in place by today but I am not sure if that has been done," he said.

President of the South Oropouche Parent Teacher Association Pauline Philbert said classes were held at the school yesterday although they had not yet received benches from the Ministry of Education.