“It is a matter of children’s future” – Manickchand on vaccination

…63% of teachers vaccinated

Education Minister Priya Manickchand has placed high priority on the full reopening of classroom learning for schools, since the prolonged absence will have lasting impact on students.
Speaking on the issue on Friday, the Minister outlined that technology has been the sole viable way of delivering education during the pandemic but there are limitations. She pointed out that this medium cannot replace the influence of in-class learning.

“It has been a very hard year and, in those hardships, we learnt many lessons that we have to incorporate in the delivery of education going forward. We learnt that we can do better in blending and we can do more in how we reach our students using technology but we learnt also that the usage of technology as a sole means of delivery, which is something that was touted a long time ago, it is not as effective as people thought it could be,” said the Minister.
In keeping with this conclusion, Manickchand mulled the safe reopening of schools in the best interest of students, since recent statistics by the Caribbean Examinations Council showed Guyana’s performance declining in several subject areas.
She stated, “We are at a place where we can no longer prevaricate on what is necessary and what is right. In the interest of our students, which is a mandate we have by the Constitution and by our conscience, we must return to classrooms in a safe way”.
It was pointed out that the reopening of schools for Grades 10 to 12 would have contributed to the country’s success at regional examinations.
“We had great difficulty with delivering education to our children online. Guyana took the bold decision last year to return to schools for Grades 10, 11, and 12. And that is why you see results of us topping the region in many subject areas. I think why we did as well; because we went back to school. The entire region saw a decline in its students’ performance and that is because we have been unable to deliver education in the way we are accustomed to delivering education and the way we believe is most effective.”
To facilitate a complete reopening would mean that teachers and students must be immunised against the novel virus. Amid calls from teachers for the Pfizer vaccine to be available to them, the Ministry decided to comply. Efforts were also made to ensure that a subset received their Sputnik V second component.
Thus far, over 63 per cent of teachers have been immunised though such mechanisms but she positioned that this “soft approach” will not continue for much longer.
“Pfizer is now available to teachers in this country. You asked and we heard. So, there is going to be a clock on when that soft approach to getting vaccinated gets activated and ends…These vaccines will not be here forever. They have a shelf life and they are not easily accessible. So, make use of them now.”
Taking these points into consideration, the education official highlighted that vaccination is a matter of securing children’s future and returning to normalcy.
“Getting vaccinated is not a bureaucratic issue anymore. It is now a matter of children’s safety and children’s future based on their performance. We need to get everyone back into schools cause while we have exit level exams at fifth and sixth forms, we’re seeing declines also…and so the entire system is disrupted. We can only get back into schools if everyone is vaccinated, teachers and students alike. So, we don’t have a choice. As a country, we have to insist that we return to normalcy.”
She further expressed, “You have a choice not to be vaccinated but that choice has consequences and so your level of participation in civilised society if you choose not to be will be hampered. We are very certain that when we come to report to you that we have seen a decline in too much subject areas that this will not be allowed to go on indefinitely.”
The Ministry has been able to use a blended approach by reopening schools for limited classroom activity as of the new school term. (Rupa Seenaraine)