…provide Covid-19 support services
President Irfaan Ali said his government will provide $500M to equip schools and provide Covid-19 support services and facilities for children and teachers.
Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus government has shut schools, but there has been little direction as to how children will continue to learn while being at home. During an address to the nation Wednesday Ali said he was deeply concerned as students have not been academically engaged in the traditional way since March. “We are particularly concerned about the impact of non-traditional schooling structures and also, the unavailability of resources and infrastructure on our children in the hinterland, our children with disabilities and our children who do not have access to data or internet,” Ali told the nation.
He added: “I’ve directed Minister Manickchand to develop a plan to address the delivery of education to our children in a COVID-19 environment. After consultation with various stakeholders, it was decided that schools were not in a position from a public health, infrastructure and facilities standpoint to facilitate a re-opening in September.”
Ali said the minister has been asked to implement a comprehensive plan aimed at ensuring children and teachers remain engaged in learning, whilst we will make available $500M to equip schools and provide COVID-19 support services and facilities for children and teachers. President Ali said the ultimate goal is to have our schools in a state of readiness at the earliest. In the interim, he said the ministry has been tasked to put the infrastructure in place for the delivery of the curriculum via the Learning Channel, State radio broadcasting and privately-owned media houses.
