Tackling learning loss may require keeping schools open in July-August – Manickchand

The extent of learning loss through the pandemic is being measured now that schools have fully reopened, and the Education Ministry is contemplating continuing classroom activity during the months of July and August to counter worrying trends.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand communicated on Tuesday that schools across the country are physically prepared to accommodate students. Since last Monday, normal class activities resumed after getting the greenlight from officials.
Upon visiting some institutions, the Minister said some worrying scenarios were detected, pointing to significant learning loss. The reopening has provided an environment for authorities to gauge the degree of learning loss suffered during the two years of closure.
“We’re ready physically for the students to come back to school. What I am seeing, and this is just cursory glances at what’s happening, is that two nursery students couldn’t identify letters and sound out the short vowel sounds. That’s very worrying. At this point, the third term in year two, they should be reading. These kids are going into Grade One,” Manickchand outlined.

To address the academic issues, diagnostic tests have already been executed. Now, the Ministry is mulling keeping schools open during the July-August break as well to tackle the learning loss shown.
“I don’t think people really appreciate what two years of school closure has done. But we have to find ways to make sure that these children get exposed to the hours of education that they need. We may have to work into July-August. How we do that would be dependent on who’s willing to work and all of that…We have real issues academically to pursue. We have already administered diagnostics that would check to see where students are, relative to where they should be. That’s how we’re going to be teaching.”
Consolidation of the curriculum has enabled educators to include content from one school year below the current grade level. For the first 20 weeks of the school year, classrooms will get exposed to the previous year’s work and then followed by 20 weeks of their substantive year material. This model will continue when students move on to the next grade.
“That’s how it should be happening. I truly hope that’s happening across levels. It requires us to monitor and implement because those changes are absolutely necessary if we’re not to be suffering from the effects of COVID five years from now. What I have seen academically is worrying.”
On the reopening factor, Manickchand said there was a positive reaction from not just teachers and students but the auxiliary stakeholders involved.
“The students are happy to be back out, a little anxious, a little nervous. Teachers are really glad to have students out. Canteen workers and vendors are happy to be able to ply their trade again…When we close schools, it is not just the students and teachers. It’s a large number of people that suffer for those closures. Of course, whether we close or open would depend only on what is in the best interest of the children,” she underscored. (G12)