Offers of help have come flooding in to the primary school that suffered thousands of dollars damage at the hands of mindless vandals ? but Government is refusing to install security cameras on the property.

Yesterday reported how vandals had targeted the Gilbert Institute on several occasions during the summer break, smashing up benches and spraying graffiti. There was even an attempted break in at the school last week.

And following yesterday's story, principal Eunice Jones said she received numerous calls from people offering to help the school.

"We have been heartened by the response from the public and offers of help both monetarily and with actual physical help," Mrs. Jones said.

"We got a call from one company who said, 'you need $7,000, we can do that'," she said.

They said they would pay "whatever it takes" to set the situation at the school right.

However, Mrs. Jones was reluctant to reveal the name of the company.

"One of the parents came up and started to clear up the site. We have had lots of positive comments," she said.

"Government has also responded. Works and Engineering are sending someone up who makes the benches."

Works and Engineering are also helping to clear the rubble off the lunch garden and get it ready for reconstruction.

However, despite Principal Jones' desire to put a security system in place at Gilbert Institute, to prevent further attacks by vandals on school property, The Education Ministry issued a statement to the contrary yesterday.

"The Ministry of Education will not employ a security guard for the Gilbert Institute after vandals recently caused more than $7,000 in damages to the school.

"Education Minister Terry Lister said the school will remain open and accessible to the public as are other schools Island-wide," the statement said.

Despite the setback, the community has rolled up its shirt sleeves to help make the start of the school year more tolerable for the 110 pupils at Gilbert.

On the school field, a new playground is being built for the children and large holes were being dug to install the new swings, monkey bars and slide.

"It will have all the things a normal playground will have. Government are paying to provide for work to be done," Mrs. Jones said.

"The community is helping to make the new playground. Government cleared the surface. They are working together, Government and the private, to get the job done."

She said the playground was made possible by the "major donation" of the Paget parish counsel.

"All the kids will use the playground," she said.