All schools to reopen for face-to-face classes come September
Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley announced moments ago that all schools will be allowed to reopen for face-to-face instruction for the upcoming school year, ending weeks of speculation by educators, parents and students alike.
According to Dr Wheatley, the first official day of school for all students is expected to be September 6, 2021.
“This decision has been made because we recognise that there are some students who will benefit from being in the classroom environment and we are laser-focused on our students’ success,” Dr Wheatley stated.
Schools are mandated to abide by established public health protocols from the previous academic year and measures will be taken to ensure all protocols are enforced as well.
The minister asked for the cooperation and diligence of all stakeholders to ensure that everyone in the schools are protected.
Unease of parents and teachers at return being measured
Dr Wheatley said the decision to return students to school will likely result in “trepidation” with some teachers as well as parents but said he is sensitive to the concerns of these persons.
In an attempt to properly gauge this unease, Dr Wheatley said there will be a survey conducted next week to ascertain the numbers and understand the concerns.
Findings of the survey, he noted, will guide and help to determine any comfortable alternatives, such as an online option.
In addition to the survey, he said teachers with underlying health conditions and other physical challenges who are experiencing some level of discomfort with the return to classrooms, are being encouraged to write to their principals who will then inform the ministry.
He said cases will be considered on an individual basis.
Teachers, unlike students, are expected to return for the start of the academic school year on August 23 when they will participate in “Virtual Professional Day”.
The theme for the 2021-2022 school year is ‘Educating all in Changing Times – Every Learner Succeeds’.
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All I’m asking Sir is that you ensure that the necessary covid protocols are in place:
1. Proper ventilation in the buildings.
2. Enough space to socially distance.
3. Proper and adequate restroom facilities.
4. A place where children can take off their masks and eat their lunches without the fear of spreading the virus if by chance someone is infected. Taking off masks and eating in air conditioned rooms is not recommended.
5. Ensure parents and children are aware of the seriousness of the disease and the consequences of not observing the protocols.
Online was from 9am to 3:30pm but the face to face will be 8am to 12:00 for some so who going in the morning shift what are they going to do in the afternoon shift?
The VIP has been in government for close to three years ( February will make 3 years). The schools that were destroyed by Irma, except proabbaly one, were rebuilt and negotiated under the previous government even though they were out of office by the time some of them were finished. The schools that were damaged were repaired good enough for students to return to school because I recall all children being back in schools within two months of Irma and Maria.
I saw the wisdom in the previous government using the CTL building. It was the best option to get ESHS going since the other campus was demolished. They put a shift system in place which this current government demonized but here we are they are using the same system now.
The ESHS campus , L Shape building, is my concern. The heavy lifting to get that school ready for reconstruction was done by the previous government. It was a project that would have cost about 3M from my sources. The VIP was able to run with construction three months after being elected because all the drawings, estimates, tendering was done by the previous administration. In usual VIP style the price of the project went up by about 2M to split it between 5 contractors. The school was built but no furniture was ordered, no internet arranged, no nothing. The same is the case in BFEC in VG. The VIP found money to do all manner of silly things but none for schools. Could you tell me why additional classrooms could not have been done between Feb 2019 and now. They put up a billboard with kids looking abandoned at school to win the election. The kids are even more abandoned now. The VIP needs to be fired forthwith. They are nothing but a bunch of false leaders. They continue to deceive the people.
What was the government doing all this time? The schools are not ready for use. None have had any maintenance work. Why after nearly three years in government some buildings could not be put up on the high school campus to accommodate our students. Why? They find money to do all sort of stupidness but none for the schools.
Money for body guards
Money to rent cronies property
Money to buy nice vehicles for them to drive
Money for the greedy bill
Money to pay board members more
Money to give false fishermen and farmers
Money to pay barge on the water for nothing
Money to hire political advisers
Money for Natalio to go Tokyo for 1 day
But none to fix schools. Fire the VIP.
I guess he saw that in japan during his day trip
Kishma on he case lol