Full face-to-face classes will resume in schools when the new academic year begins on September 19.
The Ministry of Education’s decision was communicated to principals on Wednesday, in a circular from Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona
Archer-Bradshaw who announced that the school day will return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic scheduling.
“For example, some schools will be in session from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. while others will be in session from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. All extracurricular activities will resume in full. General assemblies will return to the pre-pandemic arrangement,” she wrote in the correspondence captioned Resumption of Face-to-Face School.
The education chief noted that the three feet physical distance protocol which was recently scrapped would no longer be observed in schools, but mask-wearing would continue to be required indoors at all times.
She said students would be given breaks from having to wear masks as needed, but that would only be allowed outdoors.
However, Archer-Bradshaw said, the wearing of masks would be optional while on the outside.
“Students will not be required to wear masks while engaging in physical education classes or other physical activities while outdoors,” she stated.
The education administrator also reminded principals that hand sanitisation would be mandatory for all students and staff entering the school and frequent sanitisation would be encouraged.
As far as COVID-19 vaccination is concerned, even with children as young as five years old now having access to the jab, Archer-Bradshaw said it was not a requirement to enter the school plant.
In giving further advice, the chief education officer said staff and students should seek medical attention immediately if they show symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, and should also be encouraged to get tested.
“Kindly remind parents and guardians that they should not send sick children to school. Additionally, please remind staff and students that they should continue to exercise personal safety while on the school compound,” Archer-Bradshaw told school principals.
The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), which confirmed knowledge of the Ministry of Education’s back-to-school plan, noted that it would be monitoring the situation.
“All I would wish to say is that we will be working with the Ministry of Education and will continue to work with the stakeholders and if any issues arise during the school time, we will seek to have them rectified,” union president Rudy Lovell told Barbados TODAY on Wednesday night.
Over the past two years, public health restrictions on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic had limited full face-to-face instruction in schools, resulting in a mix of online and in-person classes.
However, the distancing protocol was removed on August 29.
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