Start new semester in phases – Caribbean Public Health Agency tells Govt

School reopening

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has advised the Education Ministry to start the new school semester in a phased approach, as the COVID-19 crisis continues to affect education delivery.
According to Chief Education Officer Ingrid Thomas on Friday, they will look at integrating the senior levels first of both secondary and primary schools. For now, the assumption is that the new school year will start in September.
“Let us assume that we begin in September. We are following the guidelines that were recommended by CARPHA which says that we should return in a phased manner. So we’re looking at having the senior or the older students in first. The secondary and the Grade Four and Five of the primary level would start to go in the beginning when school reopens,” she informed.
According to the CEO, a large volume of students means that classes will alternate throughout the week, to curb a crowded learning environment. Later in the semester, childhood institutions and special needs will return.
“In a phased manner, we would look if we have to have them in big schools where there is a big enrollment, we would probably have some persons coming in on different days, maybe alternate days or we might have a shift system. Our younger children of the early childhood level and the special education needs would be the last set of persons to begin the school year, at a later date,” Trotman informed.
While the Ministry is planning to move forward with the reopening and sitting of exams next month, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) has opposed this decision. After a meeting with education officials on Friday, the representative body said in a statement that this is putting both students and teachers at risk. As such, educators were urged to continue working from their homes through online means.
On Monday, teachers are required to report for school to prepare for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CSEC). On June 15, students sitting these exams will be required to attend school.
A total of 11,998 students are registered to write the CSEC exams from July 13 to August 4, while 852 are registered to write CAPE from July 13 to July 31. For the NGSA, four core subject areas will be tested on July 1 and 2.
The Ministry is assuring that all safety protocols will be implemented to ensure both students and educators are safe during this time. According to education officials, every scenario has been catered for ‘from the gate to the classroom and back’.