Online graduation likely if COVID-19 continues to affect BVI — Wheatley

Students in the British Virgin Islands, for the first time in the history of the territory, may have to graduate online if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect normal operations in the BVI.

Minister of Education Dr Natalio Wheatley gave that indication in a recent sitting of the House of Assembly.

“Our exit and graduation ceremonies will be postponed until a time later this year. But if the ongoing COVID-19 situation makes a physical graduation impossible, we will consider an online graduation,” the minister said. 

“We will review our graduation requirements including our exit proficiency exam and our community service hours,” he added.

More adjustments to take place

Dr Wheatley further said a number of other adjustments will be made to educational programmes such as the Spelling Bee competition which usually happens in May/June.

“Key stage assessments for grades 4 and 6 will take place on the 12th of June. The CXC examination period has been tentatively shifted to begin on the 24th of June and end for us on the 17th of July,” he stated.

The minister also said there will be a suspension of some services that accommodated students at the physical campuses of various educational facilities. These include a suspension of the daily bus service as well as truancy and lunch programmes.

As the weeks progress, Dr Wheatley said protocols will be evaluated and services implemented for the next school term, as necessary.