KEY POINTS: Ministry of Education Media Conference February 15, 2022

Minister of Education Kay McConney and other officials addressed the nation on February 15, 2022 on the safe resumption of face-to-face classes.

Minister of Education Kay McConney

• Meetings were held with stakeholders.
• The Ministry has listened, heard and evaluated options.
• The transition to face-to-face school may not be perfect.
• Monitoring and observing will be done and adjustments made.
• The size of classrooms and accommodating the three-foot rule varies.
• Some repairs can be done without the disruption of classes, some have to be done with children away from the plant.
• The Ministry has heard from those who are willing to start on February 21 and those who say they can’t.
• Seven additional social workers for primary schools and seven more counsellors for the secondary school are on board.
• There are six counsellors supported by the Sandy Lane Trust.
• The Mental Health and Wellness Committee has met and will offer support.
• Barbadian students are concerned that they have to write external exams alongside Caribbean colleagues who are back to school and are ahead.
• Schools will reopen in a phased manner on February 21.

Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, Chief Education Officer

Education Roadmap:

• It describes our plans for the safe, effective and efficient reopening of schools
• It sensitises all of our partners in education about the requirement for this safe return.
• It identifies the roles and responsibility for key stakeholders to ensure the safe operation of schools during this pandemic.

Four main requirements for the reopening of schools

• Distancing three feet apart. Students must follow the protocols.
• All students required to wear masks at all times. Allowances will be made for mask breaks
• Sanitising stations are a requirement.
• Random COVID-19 testing for students will require parents’ consent and forms will be sent.

In the first phase, the most vulnerable are identified as those in:

• Nursery, Reception, Infants A and Infants B.
• Class 4 students need to make the transition to secondary.
• First Formers need to experience the culture of the new school.
• Fourth, Fifth and Six Formers have to do School Based Assessments.
• Special needs children also need face-to-face interaction.

In the second Phase:

• Those in Class 1, 2 and 3 at primary level
• Second Form and Third Form students at the secondary level
• The Ministry will also allow for flexibility, mixing face-to-face and online instruction.
• There must be five days of face-to-face in a two-week period.
• Schools will end at 2 p.m. There is flexibility to end earlier or later.
• Principals will communicate this.
• Parents also need to support the Ministry of Education.
• If children are sick, do not send them to school.

Chief Medical Officer, The Most Honourable Dr Kenneth George

• The Ministry of Heath supports the phased approach to the return to schools.
• Transmission of COVID-19 in schools is an unlikely event. It is more likely to occur in your homes.
• Based on the protocols the Ministry believe schools are safe for learning.
• Once the protocols are adhered to, there should be no mass spread of COVID.
• If a child or teacher is ill, they should remain at home.
• This is the greatest threat if sick people are allowed on plant.