Seven secondary schools reopening for all grade levels

Seven secondary schools are being reopened for all grade levels while the remaining 126 secondary schools will be reopened on a rotational basis, but the reopening of these schools will be done in tandem with the vaccination rollout.

This was announced on Friday by June-Ann Gonsalves, the Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary) during a press conference at the National Centre for Educational Research (NCERD) in Kingston, Georgetown.

The names of the seven schools to be reopened will be revealed on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page later.

Importantly, also, Gonsalves highlighted that it is quite important for students in Grades Nine to 13 to engage in face-to-face classes as they prepare for their examinations and complete their required practical and School-Based Assessments (SBAs).

Meanwhile, Education Minister Priya Manickchand said that all schools will continue to engage in hybrid teaching- that is using both face-to-face and virtual learning.

The vaccination rollout for children aged 12 to 18, a majority of whom attend secondary schools, started on Thursday. These children will be receiving the US-made and donated Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines which have been given emergency use authorisation for the age group.

A schedule for the rollout of these vaccines in various schools has been released on the Ministry of Education’s Facebook page.

Gonsalves highlighted that the plans to reopen schools have been underpinned by the necessary social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 measures to secure the safety of children, teachers and their families.