Day one of the new school term ended Tuesday with no major complaints from teachers as the Trinity term opened with all-online teaching, President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Pedro Shepherd has confirmed.
Shepherd said while the majority of the BUT’s membership was looking forward to resuming face-to-face learning as the Ministry of Education had intended, the only complaints he received were about weak internet service in certain areas that interrupted some classes.
While this may be due to heavy demand on the electronic classrooms, the union leader suggested that internet service providers need to review the strength of what they are offering customers to ensure an efficient and reliable service.
Some teachers raised concerns that devices donated by the Chinese government have not been working as efficiently as they should, Shepherd said. But he said he was aware that the Ministry of Education has received a new shipment of devices for teachers and should begin distributing them soon.
He said: “We believe that things have been going relatively smoothly at the commencement of this third term. The face to face however is going to be the challenge. As we are aware, the ministry has indicated that it would wish for the Class 3’s, Class 4’s, fourth, fifth and sixth formers to commence face-to-face classes from next week.
“And we are hoping that that face-to-face would allow for students to be at a six-foot distance. However, if the six-foot cannot be achieved and they have to be at the three feet, we are hoping that the ministry ensures that the sanitizing equipment and so on is in stock.”
Shepherd gave an assurance that when BUT members return to the classroom next week, they would be monitoring to ensure that the COVID-19 protocols are being followed. But Shepherd said the union was concerned about students travelling on public transport and not adhering to social distancing protocols.
He said: “While we can take care of that aspect of regulations in schools, our concerns are about those persons who have to traverse using public transport systems which are not always policed properly. We are still looking at issues of clusters, community spread, and we are looking at testing at schools which is under consideration now by the Ministry of Education. But we are looking forward to when we return to face-to-face learning.
“But, I will keep saying that our schools were not designed for this type of situation and I am hoping that going forward the Ministry of Education and its new reform committee can carry out a reform that is necessary for education and that we have a situation in this country where class sizes remain at 20 maximum.
“It might very well call for additional staffing but that should not be an issue. Our schools need to have rolls significantly reduced to accommodate this situation because COVID is not going anywhere in a hurry and we have to prepare our schools for it.”
He also suggested that the education ministry find a way to increase the roles at secondary and primary schools which are underpopulated to ensure that face-to-face learning is as efficient as possible in the COVID crisis which has already interrupted a year of schooling in Barbados.
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)
