‘New term…’

The new school term is to get underway next Monday – without students in their classrooms.

They are to receive their tutoring online using the Ministry of Education’s Google-driven eLearning platform G-suite for Education.

Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw today declared that no child would be left behind with outlining a plan in place to ensure vulnerable students have access to Wi-Fi and the devices they need for online learning.

Bradshaw, who is also acting Prime Minister, disclosed today that a number of private sector interests have agreed to help Government source computers and other devices for children to use, and utility companies are ensuring they have the necessary power to do so.

Bradshaw said: “We have had discussions with Light and Power, and we have identified students who may not have electricity or who may need connections to facilitate that. We know not everyone has a device, and teachers have to be trained in using the devices.

“COVID is raising awareness of the inequalities in our system, such as those families that may not have access to electricity or broadband internet access, or only one computer that six children have to share.

“We are relying on teachers and principals to feed that information to the Ministry so we can respond. So far we have identified over 4,000 students who are more vulnerable in terms of access to devices, and there may be more.”

She continued: “The ministry is starting an education technology drive for devices, and a number of people have graciously come forward to ensure the most vulnerable households get devices as quickly as possible.

“Digicel has come on as a partner to zero rate learning on the sites we will be using on the G-suite platform. We are doing all we can to ensure students get access to devices;

“Shelley Williams, Capital Media, and a number of other companies have come in. Shelley Williams is also working on getting hold of used devices, and Haigh Communications is working with private sector agencies as well.”

Bradshaw said the education ministry has yet to determine exactly when Barbadian students will be returning to their classrooms.

She said: “We have said schools will remain closed as there are concerns about going back into that environment.”

She also noted that past the pandemic, the technology would enable students to continue their classes if individual schools had to close their doors owing to environmental or other problems, as has been the case several times in the last few years.