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By Gabriella Chapman
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand announced on Saturday that public schools will reopen on November 9, 2020, for students who are likely to sit exams next year.
These students are those in Fifth and Sixth Forms, and will also include those in fourth form, the Practical Instructions Centers (PIC) and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Schools with dormitories are also included.
Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Manickchand said that this decision was taken by cabinet after weeks of consultation with the necessary stakeholders.
She said even though the students have been academically engaged through the Guyana Learning Channel, the radio and online teaching on zoom and google classroom, as well as with the worksheets prepared by the Ministry of Education, “nothing we do will match the effectiveness or replace the value of a trained teacher in front of a classroom in face to face engagements.”
“There was urgent practical plan on the way forward for pupils and students. Over the past weeks the ministry of education met and consulted with the ministry of health, medical professionals, the Caribbean Examination Council, head teachers, teachers, Guyana teachers union, parents students and other stakeholders. From teachers, parents and students, we learnt of their deep worry that exam students were not being engaged adequately in a way that will allow them to be prepared for examinations they are most likely to sit in 2021. So worried are students that we have received an alarming number of requests from students to repeat the year they will lose, if we continue to stay out of school. So sorry are the teachers that many have already returned to the classrooms for face to face teaching at all levels in all parts of Guyana,” the minister said.
Additionally, she shared that at the Caribbean Examination Council level, the ministry learnt that the body has not yet decided when the exams will be and what form it will take.
“But last week, an advertisement was published, inviting students to get registered for the May/June sitting of the exams. From the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, we learned that diligent wearing of masks correctly, practicing hand sanitisation and staying appropriately distanced, could result in populations being as safe as if they were in a permanent lockdown. We’ve learned from studies internationally which have indicated a strong likelihood of learning loss and high possibility for premature school leaving. And the longer students stay out of school, the more likely these will be the consequences. We are keenly aware that this could cause us to squander significant gains as a country but more importantly that this could easily result in lifelong and irreversible damage to the opportunities for all of our affected children,” Manickchand remarked.
As such, all the necessary things are being put in place to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are enforced and that all the students will be kept safe as they learn.
Sinks will be installed at all schools, adequate ventilation, and seating will be appropriately distanced.
“Schools have been cleaned and weeded and we have procured masks and face shields and sanitising products, and vitamin support for teachers. And for our students who are to return, care packages will be given to them,” the minister disclosed.
Regular temperature checks will be conducted during school hours, frequent cleaning of schools and sanitising.
Manickchand said that the school term will be adjusted and each school and institution will have the freedom to set its own timetable to get teaching done effectively, and may do what is necessary to effectively deliver education needed once they comply with the gazetted COVID-19 order.
Providing more details on the plan minister said “The central ministry will provide direct guidance on the completion of SBAs once requested. Text books, past papers, digital support and other materials will be provided so that each student has access to necessary resources. Teachers of the other grades will be required to support the CSEC and CAPE teachers where necessary. Content will begin from where it was left off for each student. This may necessitate reteaching what was already taught… A wellness diagnostic will be administered to our students and support offered where necessary. Our schools welfare department is fully mobilised to address needs as they arrive and we intend not to lose one single child to this school closure.”
In addition, accommodations will be made for teachers who have younger children at home who will not be returning out back to school just yet.
She said that schools can create space for those younger children and provide the supervision.
The Ministry of Education is working closely with the Ministry of Health and if there are changes to be made, no hesitation will be made to do so.
“These are difficult times, and no measure will be perfect. But we must ensure we work to ensure that we work to make sure that we do not lose educationally. Doing nothing is not a choice for us… For our children, for our future, we must act,” Minister posited.
Addressing the issue of transportation, the Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson said that the ministry met with the minibus association and the Guyana Police Force, who came up with a detailed plan to ensure that students are taken safely to and from school.
Some of these measures include sanitising buses, and heaving police patrols at the bus park to ensure that buses are safely accommodating the students.
Manickchand injected that the buses provided by the project of former president, David Granger, 50% are not working, but the ministry will be sure to utilise those that still are.
