Bradshaw to discuss schools reopening

Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw is to meet with teachers for three days beginning on Tuesday to determine how to reopen schools next month, Government announced Friday.

The meetings are to held at the Wildey Gymnasium and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) at The Pine.

Noting that there was a lot of anxiety over the new school term, Bradshaw said the education ministry had been engaging in discussions with teachers unions and the Ministry of Health on any additional protocols that may have to be put in place for staff and students for the new school year.

The Ministry of Education has also been receiving input from principals and ministry officials “at the level of various subcommittees, and those discussions are ongoing”, said Bradshaw, as she stressed that it was equally important to get input from teachers.

She declared: “I believe that they, too, have to be given the opportunity to directly express their concerns and to make recommendations as we try to navigate together these uncharted waters, which have been presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

After all, they are the ones who have to interface directly with our students. And, while we continue to engage with the unions, I think they also deserve the opportunity to have a forum to speak directly to me as well.”

Teachers from primary, secondary, nursery and special schools are expected to attend the consultations.

Secondary school teachers are to meet on Tuesday, followed by primary school teachers on Wednesday at the Wildey Gymnasium, from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.

Teachers from nursery and special schools are to meet on Friday at the SJPI. Nursery school teachers will meet from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. and special needs teachers from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

All COVID-19 safety protocols are to be observed for the meetings, the education ministry said.
(BT/BGIS)