Gov’t to spend $500 million to ensure students, teachers are safe when schools reopen 

President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday announced that his Government will be utilizing some $500 million to equip schools for safe reopening and provide COVID-19 support services to students and teachers.

In an address to the nation on the COVID-19 situation nationally, the President spoke specifically about education and said the ultimate goal of his Government is to have schools ready for reopening at the earliest opportunity.

Minister of Health Priya Manickchand has already announced that schools will not be ready for reopening in keeping with the September schedule.

Notwithstanding this, President Ali said Wednesday that the Education Ministry has been instructed, in the interim, to put systems in place to ensure the delivery of the curriculum.

This will be done via the learning channel, state media televisions and radio with private media houses.

“I am deeply concerned that our children have not been academically engaged in traditional ways since March and I’m concerned about the impact of non-traditional school structures,” President Ali added.

He said the Government has noted the unavailability of resources and infrastructure for children to learn safely at this time.

To this end, he said the Government will continue to push for the implementation of a comprehensive plan to ensure students and teachers are engaged.

Schools have been closed since March.