A detailed explanation of how a yearly cash pot of $350,000 for schools to make improvements such as fixing damaged fencing, anti-microbial carpets, pest eradication, water foundations and fans to keep classrooms cool, has been given to MPs.

However, the budget for the ?minor works? means only a limited number of improvements can be done to the 32 or so schools that need extra help every now and then. ?Depending on the changes, that $350,000 does not necessarily stretch very far,? said Education Minister Terry Lister, as he explained the role of the minor works programme. ?Do not misunderstand. We are not complaining, but as happens in every situation, it would be nice to have more money.?

The minor works programme recognises the need for additional items that are not covered by Government?s general role of keeping school building maintained, healthy and to an acceptable standard, said Mr. Lister.

A preventable drain on the money available is from deliberate damage done to school fencing, explained the Minister.

?We have to spend a portion of the budget on installing and repairing school fencing. It is discouraging to schools and to us when members of the community cut or break down fencing because it means that our safe school environment is compromised.

?Destroying school fencing is not only unnecessary, but it places our children in danger. Funding that could be spent on making improvements elsewhere has to be spent on rebuilding fences, so I would encourage all of us to make an effort to see that this destruction stops.?

In the past year the fencing at Prospect Primary, Francis Patton and Prospect Pre-school has been repaired or installed, and by the end of this year fencing is to be installed at St. David?s Primary School.

Detailing other ways the minor works money is used, Mr. Lister mentioned installing anti-microbial carpet and sheet vinyl flooring to cut down on allergens in the air. Some $50,000 has also been allocated for pest eradication.

And Mr. Lister said a plan to replace the wooden gym floor at Prospect Primary school had been halted after the old floor boards were stripped away to reveal the boards beneath had rotted beyond the point of repair. ?I?m happy to say the school has exercised great patience and their new hardwood gym floor should be installed this summer.?

Screens and fans have been installed in some school classrooms to create ?passive cooling? and as part of the School Wellness Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, students were now opting to drink water rather than ?sugar-laden drinks,? according to Mr. Lister.

?To this end, we have set aside $180,000 for the installation of filter water fountain systems at the majority of our primary schools.?

Other initiatives include a school library at Prospect Primary, acoustical tiles and ?emergency notification devices? to benefit children with hearing impairments at Gilbert Institute and Dellwood Middle School, renovations of the science labs at Paget and Somerset primary schools, new playground equipment for Lagoon Park Pre-school and St. Paul?s Pre-school.

Assistance has also been given to Whitney Institute Middle School to deal with asbestos and to complete new science labs.