UNICEF donates COVID-19 protective gear as schools set to reopen

The United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday handed over some 1944 face shields to the Education Ministry, as plans are afoot to reopen schools for the new academic year.

The contribution forms part of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) project in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The face shields are the first of an expressed plan for a total of 35,000 pieces including masks and other protective gears to be handed over to support measures to protect against the deadly virus.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Alfred Kind said the donation fits another effort to support continued learning in a safe and secure environment as they work out plans for the eventual opening of schools.
Since mid-March, Guyanese have been operating under guidelines to protect themselves, ever since the detection of patient zero. From then, the country has seen an increase of over 335 cases.
UNICEF Resident Representative, Sylvie Fouet recognised the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education sector, noting that the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a critical element for the return to a safe environment for students when schools eventually open.
Schools remained closed for many weeks, but were later reopened for the sitting of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) which concluded earlier this month. The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination will also wrap up in the coming weeks.
Chief Education Officer Ingrid Trotman had said parents can decide whether they want their children to sit the secondary entrance examination. However, if they do not, these students will be placed at a school closest to their home. These placements, however, do not include an “A” or “national” school.
The following year after completing the Grade Seven level, provisions will be in place for them to write a placement test. If they score above 70 per cent, a higher school will be awarded.
“If the parents opt not to have their children or child write this examination, there is nothing we can do to force them. However, in not doing so, they will be placed at the school closest to them. If they are not satisfied or perhaps if they have any other questions about being placed at the school closest to them, there is what we call the placement examination and that is done during the July month,” she was quoted as saying.
Thus far, online learning has been implemented through several online platforms to keep students abreast with the curriculum. With regards to concerns raised by the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) about access to hinterland students, these were taken into account and work papers were later issued by teachers.
At schools, initiatives were taken to construct sinks for washing hands and those writing the exams were placed some six feet away from each other, while maintaining this distance to and from classrooms.