Only 1 ARMS student tested positive for COVID-19 – Education Ministry

…rejects Opposition MP’s claim of “numerous” students positive

The Education Ministry has rejected what it described as “untruths” being peddled on social media by Opposition Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson regarding the Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS) in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

In a social media post, Ferguson claimed that a number of students from the school tested positive for COVID-19 when in fact, only one student at the school tested positive.
According to the Education Ministry, the figure has been confirmed by officers within the Department of Education in the region.
“The school has adequate space to accommodate all of its students. Presently, the school has approximately 650 students attending classes daily. Since the reopening of the school, only one assembly session was held. When students enter the school, they enter their classrooms and remain there, only leaving to use the washroom or canteen during recess,” the Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the Ministry, all of the cleaners attached to the school have the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning detergent to ensure a clean environment.
“Students are monitored regularly to avoid gathering and adequate masks are available for students. A supervisory visit conducted on January 5th, 2021 by officers of the Department revealed that all students and teachers were engaged in the teaching-learning process,” the Ministry said, adding that it accepted readily that these were challenging times for the education sector across the world and for the delivery of education to Guyana’s children.
“The Ministry would be happy to receive constructive and sensible contributions on how it can improve delivery, but calls on all persons to be responsible in their publications and whispers, conversations and representations,” the Education Ministry stated.