UWI halts class, word pending at BCC and SJPI

The University of the West Indies at Cave Hill suspended all classes until Monday, April 6 due to the two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Barbados.

The Barbados Community College said it is awaiting word from the Ministry of Education.

In a statement to students, the UWI said pending further developments all services of the campus will continue during the period of suspension and efforts will be intensified to deliver teaching online, wherever possible when classes resume.

UWI said the decision gives consideration “to the need to minimise the likelihood of person-to-person transmission of the coronavirus among staff”,

“Head of Departments will be activating plans to facilitate the continuity of business operations as required and will determine the specific tasks to be assigned for execution if operating at home. Staff who are required to be on campus are asked to adhere to all instituted protocols,” the statement said.

Last Thursday, Barbados TODAY reported that the university was examining the possibility of moving all classes online as the administration rolls out a slew of protocols and procedures to tackle the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement also urged staff and students to practice good personal hygiene and social distancing.

The Barbados Community College’s Students’ Guild president Kobie Broomes told Barbados TODAY that while any decision to close lies with the Ministry of Education, this did not stop them from keeping students abreast.

The guild president said: “We would have had a meeting with our students Monday in the gymnasium and we would have informed them of the plan going forward for BCC.

“There is a move now to put all classes online, the ones that can go online in the event of possible closure.

“The principal [Annette Alleyne] would have outlined that we are not going to be closing until we are directed by the Ministry of Education.

“However, we told our students to protect themselves and practise social distancing and that they would not be penalised if they do not feel comfortable coming into the environment.

“At this point in time, it is just a matter of educating our students about the coronavirus and about their studies.

“We are still awaiting word as to when the full transition on to the online platform will happen. In the meantime, we the Students Guild are asking students to protect themselves.”

Barbados TODAY has reached out to the principal of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute for information on its plans for classes.