Parents of pupils at St. Mary’s. Brollagh which is earmarked for closure at the end of the month have said their children have been “publicly humiliated” by the removal of furniture and equipment while they are in still in school and while the school remains open.

The last week saw lorries arrive at the school, load up with equipment before bringing it to other schools.

It has also been reported that principals from other schools have also visited Brollagh during school hours to pick out equipment for their schools.

On Monday, while the equipment was being removed police cars were seen parked close to the school.

There have been claims from St. Mary’s Parents Council that equipment was removed from technology and home economic classrooms while the art room has been stripped of its contents as well.

Student lockers have also been dismantled and removed according to reports from students to the Parents Council.

READ MORE: Fermanagh and Omagh Councillors condemn Brollagh equipment removal

“Parents are outraged that their children are being left mentally scarred as they watch on in horror at the removal of this equipment that has been part of their educational years at St. Mary’s,” said a spokesperson for the Parents Council.

“Some parents have compared this to child abuse as they are being publicly humiliated on a daily basis.”

He further claimed: “A parent who contacted our group has alleged that their child has had their school desk removed as it was required for a school in Enniskillen, the replacement desk that the child received was not fit for purpose.

“Numerous parents also confirmed that a teacher could not undertake class fully as the whiteboard was removed from the classroom and prepared for removal to another school. The teacher attempted to use a flip chart to try and facilitate the subject.”

We put all the claims to the Department of Education, a spokesperson said Minister Peter Weir only became aware of the issue when contacted by the Parents Council on June 1 and after sought an update from the school and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).

The spokesperson confirmed that The Transition Plan which the school has developed with the support of CCMS contains procedures and protocols for closure, this is being managed in conjunction with the Education Authority (EA).

The update disputes reports from the Parents Council saying: “The school has confirmed that no school resource or equipment involved in teaching and delivering of education, or from a classroom, has been or will be removed until after June 25, 2021, when the school term ends.

“CCMS has confirmed that some school lockers which were not in use, and not in a teaching and learning area, have been removed.

“The Department would reinforce that the best interests of children and young people should be a primary consideration.”

The EA confirmed that they were working with the CCMS on the transition plan undertaking inventory work in the library and also visited the Youth Club facility onsite.

Mother of two

A mother of two Brollagh students who wanted to speak about the current situation feels the students deserve more respect.

“The very fact that our children can’t finish out their school year with a bit of respect shown to them is deeply concerning. The children of the community deserve better, my children deserve better.

“I can’t fathom the panic to remove and dismantle the school. The manner things are being dealt with is leaving a bitter aftertaste in the community which will take time to heal. Our only hope is that our young people are treated better when they move to their new schools in September.”

“The CCMS insisted all along the transition of pupils from St. Mary’s to alternative schools would be a smooth process. As parents, we certainly didn’t expect that they would begin the process of decanting before the end of the academic year. Their child-centred approach that they maintain to uphold has failed miserably.”

On Wednesday CCMS representatives were due to meet with Fermanagh and Omagh District Councillors and the Parents Council however, this was boycotted by all but the SDLP. The councillors threw their support behind the the Parents Council who CCMS refused to meet with.

SDLP Councillor, John Coyle, attended briefly to tell CCMS representatives of his “anger and disgust” at the treatment St. Mary’s before leaving.