By Sue-Ann Wayow
ALL secondary school pupils attending forms four, five and six are required to attend physical classes from Monday, regardless of their vaccination status.
Additionally, pupils in forms one to three will be allowed to start back physical school in January but will continue with on-line learning for the remainder of this school term.
This was announced by Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly on Wednesday at a press conference hosted by the Ministry of Education.
The minister said based on information gathered over the past two weeks when physical school was re-opened for those vaccinated against Covid-19, the ministry made several changes to the education system because education is now being placed at risk.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly also announced that teachers for those forms will no longer be required to provide an on-line learning platform and focus will be placed on practical learning and the School Based Assessments (SBAs.)
Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) centres, primary schools and tertiary institutions remain physically closed for pupils and students.
And for special schools, persons will be allowed to return to physical class on a rotational basis the minister announced.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly said parents decision to not have their children fully vaccinated as anticipated is having a detrimental effect on children’s education while stating that there was a decrease of seven per cent in persons obtaining at least five Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examination passes in the 2021 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
The Pfizer vaccine is available for all persons ages 12 to 18 but the minister said more children were showing up vaccinated in denominational schools than government secondary schools.
She also advised all the pupils who will be unvaccinated and attending physical classes that they will have to take extra precautions in ensuring that they do not contract or spread the virus.
