Schools to remain closed until new term – Education Ministry

COVID-19

The Education Ministry has made a decision to extend the closure of all public schools for another week, which will extend into the Easter Term vacation break.
In a notice on Monday, the Ministry said this conclusion was taken after considering the ‘current situation’. From April 6 to April 17, students would be entitled to their Easter break. The commencement of the third term remains as scheduled for April 20.
Initially, the announcement was made for schools to be closed for two weeks, commencing from March 16. This came one day after the Ministry indicated that all schools would remain open.
The Ministry had initially advised persons to take the necessary precautions as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in relation to COVID-19. They later recanted their decision of keeping these institutions open amid the threats.
Additionally, the University of Guyana also opted to close its two campuses – located at Tain and Turkeyen – until there is normalcy in Guyana.
The Transitional Management Committee of the University advised that staff and students of both Turkeyen and Tain campuses and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) would be absent from campus and working online until March 30, 2020.
“The extension is now applicable to all staff and students of UG, with the exception of those essential services staff in the registry, bursary, maintenance, security and personnel divisions who will be deployed on service as required. This is a precautionary measure in response to NCV-19,” UG stated.
Initially, the institution had made a decision to suspend all class activities until March 20 after a request from the University of Guyana Student’s Society (UGSS).
However, it positioned that scientific data shows a larger population of infected persons, which cannot be ignored.
“The University relies on scientific evidence emerging and based on modelling of the infection in large countries already affected, thus, the most effective means of managing NCV-19 is through mass containment procedures in the period of highest vulnerability, that is within 14 days of exposure,” the University indicated.
While these institutions remain closed, the Education Ministry is still in possession of a ‘blank cheque’ issued by President David Granger for expenditure relating to COVID-19. It was one of three, issued to the Health and Citizenship Ministries also.
The move comes under an Executive Order issued by the President under the Public Health Ordinance and was signed by the President, and according to the document, the Finance Minister shall expend from the Consolidated Fund such sums of money as may be necessary for the effectual carrying out of identified measures to be undertaken by the various Ministries.