Education Ministry Undertakes Research On COVID-19

School will not be reopening on September 7 as planned. The Education  Ministry has decided to delay the process and will reopen schools on a phased basis beginning Monday, October 5. This follows its earlier announcement of undertaking research to get information on its response to covid-19 and assess its strategies going forward.

However, preparations continue in schools across the island despite some parents expressing skepticism over the likelihood their children will return to school. Some educators are, however, expressing readiness – after having implemented the required protocols.

Over in Manchester, the Principal at DeCarteret College is expressing that view.

“We have a plan as to whether we will be physical and that plan is a mixed operation plan,” says Principal of DeCarteret College, Prim Lewis. “In other words, we will be having some of our students on rotation and some of our students will be face to face.”

Another Principal also shared their plan for school reopening – the Principal of Richmond Primary, Annie Barrett Elliott:

“So, on entry temperatures will be taken and they will be directed to the sanitisation area. We had planned to install wash hand basins throughout all the school compound. So, we will have at the entrance, one on each block. We have one at the canteen area and we” have one at the tuck shop area.”

However, the Education Ministry has now announced that schools will be reopened on a phased basis effective October 5 – a change that from the Minister’s most recent statement.

“I would say, generally speaking, we would proceed to open on the seventh but we have to be guided by the Ministry of Health. Remember now, the Ministry of Health works with the Ministry of Education and we don’t make a move until we clear it with them.

The Education Ministry is conducting online surveys with educators, parents, and students to assess the ministry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact in the short and medium-term and develop strategies to deal with it. The ministry says it expects to prepare an education sector plan for the next 12 to 18 months to address these challenges. With regards to readiness, Education Minister Karl Samuda is adamant that all facilities are in place.