Representative of UNICEF’s Eastern Caribbean Area Office, Dr Aloys Kamuragiye has commended the Ministry of Education for making the move to resume face-to-face classes on February 21.
On Thursday, while accompanying Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw on a tour at Arthur Smith Primary in St Matthias, Christ Church, to inspect the sanitizing units donated by UNICEF and USAID, Dr Aloys said despite push-back from stakeholders, he was happy that school doors have been reopened.
He said that while some countries are yet to follow suit, too many children, due to their social and economic backgrounds, have not benefited from online learning and are now behind in their academic studies.
Face-to-face classes were suspended in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They were not learning and I knew that the education system in Barbados will ensure that those children who didn’t learn during that period have an opportunity to catch up. Of course, for UNICEF and USAID, it was the minimum to ensure that we can support Barbados in ensuring that there is a conducive and enabling environment.
“We have been advocating for schools re-opening, but in a safe environment. I am so happy to see that across Barbados all the schools have put in place the measures to ensure that children are safe.
“Congratulations to Barbados because there are still some countries who have not re-opened school. You have seen in Barbados, some pressure but Barbados did the right thing and we are really so happy and we are proud of Barbados,” Dr Aloys said.
All Government nursery, primary and secondary schools across the island have been equipped with hand sanitizer units to make the environment safer for students, teaching and non-teaching staff.
The units were financed by UNICEF-USAID and have been installed on the walls of each classroom in all nursery and primary schools, while each secondary school has been equipped with two or more standing sanitizing machines, depending on the size of the student population.
Arthur Smith Primary, which has been adopted by the United Nations, also received a donation of hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and soap.
Dr Bradshaw said the ministry is grateful for UNICEF’s contribution to the safe re-opening of schools.
“We are so grateful that our children now can go to the classroom and each classroom has the sanitizing stations so that children can follow the protocols that are required of them,” Dr Archer-Bradshaw said.
(AH)
