Schools to remain closed for April – Education Minister
Kaieteur News – Last Thursday, Education Minister Priya Manickchand announced that schools across the country will remain closed for face-to-face engagement for April. This is for all grades except Grades 10, 11 and 12.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
During an update on the Ministry’s Facebook page, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, the Minister said that the Ministry of Education had been advised by the Ministry of Health that schools should stay close.
“We are advised by the Ministry of Health that we cannot re-open schools for April, so schools will stay close for face-to-face learning, apart from the ones we are already reopening,” Manickchand explained.
In addition, he said that the Cabinet considered all issues such as the robust vaccination program currently underway, the number of people being vaccinated, the rate at which vaccines are given, the availability of vaccines the vaccination and the number of confirmed cases recorded and not forgetting its primary consideration, the students and teachers. Taking this situation into account, the Minister said that the decision had been taken not to re-open schools.
Although the schools are closed for the Easter holidays, the Minister revealed that some schools continue to teach because of the time lost and the upcoming examinations of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations. He emphasized that when schools resume on April 12, no other classes would be allowed to go back to face-to-face sessions other than those highlighted. Minister Manickchand further assured that if the Ministry of Health has identified any other changes, the Ministry of Education will immediately inform the public accordingly.