Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Saturday held a virtual meeting with all Regional Executive Officers (REO) and Regional Education Officers (REdO) to discuss plans for the eventual re-opening of schools.
The meeting aimed at ascertaining the regions’ preparedness for the eventual re-opening of schools. The Minister said that with schools closed since March due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic it is important that every school be fully prepared to receive both students and teachers in the safest of environments when schools are approved for re-opening by the Ministry of Health.
With grades ten and eleven students needing critical time in the classroom to complete School-Based Assessment (SBA) in the lead-up to CXC and CAPE 2021; consideration is being given for this group of students to return to the classrooms first.
The Education Minister said all school must be fully equipped with running water, adequate toilets and other sanitizing tools. The Ministry of Education is currently undertaking works at schools across the country. This includes the installation of additional sinks at the entrances and within the schools. Additional toilets are being built and COVID-19 guidelines signs are being erected in and around the schools. There is also weeding and cleaning of school compounds that are ongoing.
Though costly, the preparatory exercise is mandatory and the Minister said that the National Budget caters for blended participatory approach in addressing the existing situation.
Additionally, the meeting focused on how students at schools with dormitories will be adequately facilitated while still observing the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. It was decided that ongoing work had to be accelerated and efficiently managed to ensure the safety of both students, teachers and other stakeholders.
Discussions were also had on ensuring there are adequate staffing and textbooks for schools in light of the pandemic which will ensure certain restrictions are not infringed.
Also attending that meeting was the Ministry of Education’s Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson, Permanent Secretary Alfred King, and the Assistant Chief Education Officers for Nursery, Primary and Secondary; along with all District Education Officers (DEO’s) and the Chief Planning Officer Ms Nicola Johnson.
