Face-to-face learning possible when teachers, parents get vaccinated
Amid public concerns that remote learning is hampering the development of some children, Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley said in-person classes will be a possibility once teachers and parents are vaccinated.
Students are not required to be inoculated since children under 18 have not been verified to take the AstraZeneca vaccine now available in the BVI.
“I think with the vaccination of our teachers and parents, the pathway is there to get our children back in school. There are many persons concerned about the reopening of schools. I have spoken to the Ministry of Health and they’ve assured me that when teachers, parents and other persons in the society become vaccinated, then we can discuss what measures can be relaxed,” Dr Wheatley said.
He made that statement during the Virgin Islands Party’s Let’s Talk online radio programme last evening.
The minister explained that health officials made arrangements last week for teachers to be vaccinated. He also said he has arranged educational sessions for educators who have questions about the Aztrazeneca jabs.
“The pathway to the normalisation of our society — which includes the schools — has to do with us getting vaccinated,” Dr Wheatley reasoned.
Currently, it is not mandatory for anyone to take COVID-19 jabs in the BVI.
But reports have surfaced that some essential workers, including healthcare practitioners, police as well as Customs and Immigration officers have refused to take the jabs.
Public figures have been urging the public to take the jabs, saying it could lead to the full reopening of the economy.
More than half of the 8,000 Aztrazeneca doses donated by the United Kingdom have been administered. But many residents have indicated their unwillingness to take vaccines which gained approval in under a year.
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Natalio Wheatley is biggest political disappointment I have ever seen. Before he was elected he had everything to say about everything happening in the country. Now he has gotten a chance to prove what he could do “nothing there”. Nothing! Nothing under this man moves. Look at the education system. We have no covid cases but his excuse now is vaccine. So no face to face school until parents and teachers get vaccinated? I saw other ministers getting vaccinated. Were you vaccinated Mr. Wheatley? I know that you were not. So we have no school until the minister get vaccinated as well.
did he take the vaccine he here running off his mouth?
I second the motion
Most of these political pundits on here bumping their guns and they haven’t taken the jab, set of liars, the great pretender taking his insulin and telling the public is the vaccine. WTH is this place coming to buddy?
People clearly understand the future. As the US and other countries reach herd immunity by vaccination then a vaccination will be required to enter these countries. If you wish to enter the USVI or Puerto Rico in the near future, you will have to show proof of vaccination. So, you can decide not to be vaccinated, that is certainly your choice but you can be assured that you will have to remain in the BVI as you will not be allowed to travel.
No place like home
@People
Continue with the scaremongering. The most I see the USA and other countries doing is demanding testing or possible quarantine in lieu of a vaccine.
Why do you all want to mandate a vaccine that has not been tested over a long period of time? This for a virus that has killed 2% of the people who became infected? 95% of the 2% had pre-existing conditions.
Try you best.
A disappointment of epic proportions.
When the agenda is self enrichment, that is what we/you get, fooled and mega disappointment in the process and in the end.
Only now you seeing this man is a less and just there for his own agenda and ego
If this was the plan they WHY were the teachers not given the vaccine as priority? Instead it was given out to any and everyone who turned up and now there are no more available until the 17th of the month. PRIORITIZE THE CHILDREN! What is wrong with you? This is just another tactic to delay our unrest as a society. The current government need to step up when it comes to our children and education.
It was arraigned for teachers to go get vaccinated. They chose not to.
Smart decision on their part.
The answer is, THERE IS NO PLAN!!! Sowande, Fahie and VIP continues to make s**t up as they go along. He realizes how DUMB he looks with the schools closed so they make up this bulls**t. The reality is schools will NOT reopen until September and these jackasses will continue to kick the can down the road, milking COVID and making videos everyday about how much they are working for the people. What is working? Does anyone know the financial state of this territory? Nobody knows where we are or where we are going. All other elected officials are QUIET. Tourist Board, Minister of Tourism, QUIET. Premier is Minister of Finance, QUIET when it comes to anything important. Minister of Education only wants to talk about weed, Premier and Minister of Health all they want to talk about is COVID and not being out of the woods. The others are enjoying the daily drives out in their heavily tinted dark SUVs paid for by tax payers, while business owners and parents of young kids have to stress about choosing whether to go to work or stay at home to help them with school.
Hush you s***t
The vaccine is not mandatory y’all stop forcing ppl to take it
Stop using the vaccine as excuse
Y’all get no plans
Absolutely ridiculous. Every other country has a priority of getting kids back in school even though they have community spread. For a country begging themselves up on how we have handled the pandemic kids not in school is shameful.
did he take the vaccine he here running his mouth?
Utter nonsense. Are the children immune from contracting Covid? It just goes to show that this intended massive vaccination program is nothing short of a scam or perhaps part of a hidden agenda.
Why seek to make this vaccine mandatory through sinister means? What next shall we be told? You cannot travel, you cannot enter the supermarket or various business places, or even get out in public without being vaccinated…
When shall a vaccine be develop to prevent or protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted virus, Ebola etc?
The irony of a Covid-19 vaccine!
YOU JUST LOST MY VOTE. SOWANDE DO YOU HEAR WHAT IS COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH HM
In a blind world… the one eye man is king
The nonsense that is being spewed by the politicians are unbelievable
OKAY, KEEP THE SCHOOLS CLOSED. SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO HAVE THE COUNTRY RUN BY THE UNEDUCATED. SOMETIMES COMMON IS BETTER THAN THE DEGREES. PARENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE A VOICE TOO, NOT ONLY THE MINISTER.
EVERY TEACHER AND SCHOOL STAFF DOWN TO THE JANITOR AND SCHOOL LUNCH WORKERS IN THE SCHOOLS IS MANDATED TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BE AROUND CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS GOING TO BE BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT WEEK AFTER BEING HOME FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND EVERY TEACHER AND SCHOOL STAFF IS VACCINATED. TEACHERS, ALL HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND FRONT LINE WORKERS IS MANDATED TO BE VACCINATED OR THEY WILL BE WITH OUT A JOB.
This will be a court issue.
so, Is The vaccine mandatory ? why do we have to vaccinate our children if we don’t want to… and still that vaccine do not prevent nobody to catch the virus.
He did not take the vaccine and now the country run out of the vaccines. The VIP government is the worse thing to happen to the BVI.
I thought they say we had 8000 vaccines?
Reading this post is utter nonsense. Because our children needs face to face, we the parents must be vaccinated. as a parent, you can count me out and if my child cannot go to school, well so be it. there are a lot of online classes that can be an option.
Government did not educate the public on this vaccine nor its side effects. what about the fact people are dying around the world because of this suppose vaccine that cannot protect you from the virus. Why are you pushing mandatory vaccinated knowing that our kids are still at risks whether we the parents took the vaccine or not? I am very disappointed at this news. it utter nonsense coming from the education department. Many Caribbean kids have been in school despite of the risks out there.
Where is this leading too by forcing something on people that has a death rate all over the world?
many people have stayed out of hospital and not died because of the vaccine. Do you see how the numbers are dramatically dropping in other countries where the vaccine roll out is well underway? This is the only way to get out of this mess.
The side effects are nothing compared to what millions have suffered with covid and are fleeting.
I agree however that the schools need to reopen, vaccine or no vaccine. Its criminal to keep them online. We are creating such problems for now and the future.
For the sake of my child education and future, my husband and I made the decision which was not a easy thing to do as parents is to send our child to her aunt in the UNITED STATES TO COMPLETE HER EDUCATION.
This government is not getting back in power after this s**t. Therefore, enjoy your mess because history will not be repeated in this BVI. How dare you ask us to vaccinate ourselves and our kids just to attend school! You must be out of your mind! What is next on the government’s agenda? Total abuse of power.
I second that and finally too …bio this one X u never see again so I advise u to go straight ahead and them 30 pieces of silver Judas….
We all know something is wrong with the vaccines because what sickness anybody knows that only affects adults. What is really going on in the world?
I don’t think government officials were given this Vaccine I think they were given saline solution instead. Don’t trust their Bill Gates poison.
Lord even in my death there still stabbed me in my back …woe unto does that trade his soul for the price of gold…..we never forget u of all them polition. …u move like that serpent..mr Wheatley
The word, “jab,” should not be used to describe a vaccine injection. It is just to violently British and sounds out of place. BVI News, can’t you do better?
Hmmmm. You either take the vaccine or no in class learning…This is actually using their power and authority to enforce their will and to get their way…Is this legal.. This has become the VIP Modus.
If this does not affect kids in any way then please tell me why we the parents and teachers need to take the death vaccine! If it poses no threat to the kid’s health then tell me what is all this about. You betrayed us all Hon: Wheatley. Thought better from you. I might as well move overseas.
SOWANDE IS GETTING HIS TAMARIN GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS SIMMERING HOT FROM THE OVEN TODAY. BRO, THE PEOPLE GOT YOU ON FULL OUT BLAST.
So basically school not returning to normal until teachers and parents vaccinated but the vaccine is not mandatory… come to me like you saying school not going to return to normal then. Had such high hopes for this education minister
Parents are trying everything to get their children out of their care because they realize they are just baby donors to this country. Hardly any of them spend time with or talk to their children. They feel that teachers are the only entity through which their children can learn. Stop blaming lack of learning on shortened school hours. Even with most of these children at school learning will be difficult because there’s no reinforcement at home.
so if the teacher take it but I the parent don’t that mean my child can’t come back to face to face classes..
by any means this government going get 80+ of the population this vaccine
Minister for Education Dr. Natalio Wheatley did you get vaccinated? We the people would like to know our we will continue to ask the question.
or*
Q1: Have you (The Hon.) taken the vaccine?
Q2: So, what you’re saying is, once all teachers are vaccinated there’s space for 15+ (non vaccinated) children in a class room to social distance?
Ok, noted.
This is height of foolishish this.vip goverment say they for the people what is happening now to our rights of freedom of speech and the right to be educated is it now according to the vaccine. I will not give you guys my x ever again.Mr Wheatley power really change you or you were prentending to be a nice person.God wont give his people what they cant bare.he have the final say not you.this is time churches needed to come.