Minister of Education Kay McConney has heard the call of scores of protesting parents who last weekend attempted to pressure the Government to reopen schools for face-to-face classes.
McConney said, while she commended protestors who gathered last Saturday outside Government headquarters armed with placards to express their disapproval of the continuation of online school which began in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her ministry has already indicated its intention to work with all of its partners towards a February 21 return to the physical classroom.
Minister McConney commented on the development on Monday, following the ground breaking ceremony for a new track at the Springer Memorial School.
“I am very happy that we live in a country where people can freely express what their concerns are. And I therefore commend the initiative that was taken by those persons who thought that they needed to do so. The Ministry of Education as you are fully aware has already made our statement.
“We made that statement last week that we are intent on working across Government and with all of our partners to see how it is best for us to get to a February 21 face-to-face return to school.
“And so again my simple comment is bravo to those who have seen it fit to exercise their democratic right in a country that is free and do know that we are looking forward to working with all of them to see how best we can make it to February 21 successfully,” McConney said.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the peaceful protest said they hoped Government sticks to its promised February 21 date for students and teachers to return to face-to-face teaching, and noted that they would be considering their next move if the promise is broken.
The parents criticised Government for giving the green light for large sporting events including recent T20 cricket matches hosted in Barbados, at a time when students were still away from the classroom as a result of a spike in COVID-19 cases. School-aged children also attended the protest.
(AH)
