SIR,

I could see no response from Mr Mathews or Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) to my recent letter about the portable classrooms being erected at the Comprehensive, so I thought I'd try again.

Can the chief executive Mr Mathews and his colleague Mr Keep please advise me and parents what the council's plans are for the current school?

The school governors annual report for 2009/10 states that MCC was unable to obtain any funding for redevelopment of any schools this year from the Welsh Assembly, yet it would seem that the councillors of Newport are more adept at obtaining funds from the Welsh Assembly than those of Monmouth, hence the two new comprehensive schools built in Newport in the last year.

Why is that?

I believe a business case is being prepared by the council for submission to the Welsh Assembly Government under its "21st Century Schools" initiative.

Shouldn't this have been done years ago?

We are entering a period of economic hardship; how many of our secondary school leavers will be able to go on to further education because of the tuition fees issue?

Many of these children will need to be educated to a level where by they may directly enter the workplace with some confidence in their abilities as taught in school.

To do that we need the best teachers working in the best environment, so what is MCC planning on doing about this issue, which is going to happen?

It is unavoidable.

Our children are going to be affected.

Can we rely on those entrusted with looking after Monmouthshire's education?

Parents with children in primary school should look to the future, as your children will be heading either to Monmouth Comprehensive or the other comprehensives in Monmouthshire.

As one correspondent put it last week, our councillors are up for re-election soon, ask them the awkward questions regarding the future of their childrens secondary school.

Mr Williams spoke at the prize giving ceremony in Monmouth Comprehensive last September.

He rightly praised the achievements of Ms Herman and her staff for their successes in the previous year.

He also said he would support Ms Herman in developing the school, so what is he doing?

The erection of semi-permanent portable classrooms, while useful, does not resolve the issue that Monmouth Comprehensive needs a new home.

I am worried that the economic downturn will be used as the reason given for why the council can't do this or do that in a multitude of areas.

We mustn't fall for that line.

We need to sleep at night knowing we have done our best for our childrens future; that we have sought the best be it schools or teachers.

If we do not ask then we have no right to complain at the decrepit facilities provided for our childrens education.

(Name and address supplied)