ROMAN Catholic Archbishop of Port of Spain Jason Gordon says there is "more than enough" room in denominational schools to accommodate registered Venezuelan children.

The Catholic Board, he said, is fully prepared to begin receiving these children but nothing can be done until the relevant State authorities grant approvals.

Gordon was speaking at a joint select committee of Parliament meeting on human rights, equality and diversity on Friday. This meeting focused on the treatment of migrants.

He said children's education ought not to be treated as an option but a fundamental human right. He added that it is also crucial when it comes to national security.

"...Because if this child grows up in the country and is uneducated, we going to have trouble down the road."

He said the Catholic Board has done "everything possible to get these children into schools.

"We have worked with all the denominational boards and we have more than enough places for the registered children of the country to be enrolled into our schools. We've been preparing teachers for those children to come into our school system."

In 2019, government allowed 16,500 Venezuelans migrants to become registered. Although free to live, work and contribute to this country, registered migrants are not allowed basic freedoms which citizens enjoy such as access to public health and schooling.

The Prime Minister had said that if it chooses to do so, the Catholic Board can provide education for the children who are registered.

Gordon said a list of these children who were in need of education has been submitted to the Ministry of National Security. What is missing, he said, is a mechanism to get the children into the schools.

'CHECK THE WEBSITE'

"We have the schools, places available that would not displace any national children from education, we have the teachers prepared and the principals prepared..."

Officials from the Education Ministry were asked what has been put in place to allow this specific group of migrant children to become registered given hurdles such as lack of documentation.

Instead, chief education officer Anna Singh spoke of the general process for all migrant children, saying information is readily available on the ministry's website, which anyone can check. In addition, she said applications can be submitted at its district and head offices, as well as online.

Committee chairman, Senator Dr Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim said Singh was using too many broad terms and that is was "not satisfactory" to say information is available on the ministry's website.

"How is the outreach system tailored to migrants," he asked.

The ministry's director of school supervision Aaron Ramrattan said migrants are free to interact with principals or bring someone to assist them if there is a language barrier. Once there is space, and official documents can be provided, children can get into schools.

Singh said the ministry is unable to suggest a system "that is not in line with the immigration laws...There are no alte