School monitors to become classroom assistants

The 220 people hired to work as school monitors in nursery, primary and special needs schools during the COVID-19 pandemic are being given the opportunity to transition to the role of school assistants.

Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw made the announcement on Thursday at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Ilaro Court where she said the required training in basic childcare has already started for the monitors to allow them to be reintegrated into the system.

“I believe the Ministry of Education has given them an option if they wish to continue. They are going to be at the same level as the nursery assistants. There is also the provision for training to be done for these individuals in basic child care because, despite some already having engaged in basic child care on their own, we feel it is necessary that we create an ethos within the educational system where persons who are definitely interested will be able to support teachers within the classroom, but also generally within the school environment,” she said.

Bradshaw said the school assistants will be required to continue to promote personal and interpersonal habits among children, assist teachers with routine matters relating to education, prepare classrooms, and supervise children when they arrive at school.

“We are looking at them to also help in the construction of teaching aids in the classroom, and there are lots of other activities that I am sure perhaps may not be listed. But I know that many of them enjoy working with the children and have really taken to the role that was created for them. And we do feel that in support of the teaching profession, this is a necessary thing for us to do, not just for them but also for the children of this country,” she said.

Bradshaw noted that the Ministry of Education had received reports from principals regarding the favourable performance of many of the people who served as school monitors to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

(AH)