IT’S critical for students to return safely to physical schools in Trinidad and Tobago.
And there is also the need for close supervision to ensure that students do not breach safety protocols.
This was one of the recommendations brought forward by education stakeholders after a meeting with the Ministry of Education on Monday to discuss operations of school for Terms II and III, 2021\2022.
A release from the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, stated that the meeting included:
The Principals’ Associations, Denominational School Boards;
Special Schools’ Associations;
Private Schools’ Associations;
The National Parent Teacher Association; and
The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA).
At the meeting, Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly and Minister in the Ministry Lisa Morris- Julian, along with Secretary of the Secretary of Education, Research and Technology, Zorisha Hackett and other executives were also present.
The ministry stated some of the recommendations were to make the reality of parents’ trepidation with regard to their children’s physical school attendance, and its impact on attendance rates and teachers’ ability to deliver the curriculum; the need for standardisation of Covid-19 testing, sanitisation, contact tracing, quarantine and release protocols across counties, and adequate provision of school funding and school infrastructure upgrades where necessary.
In addition, there was also the need for a level of standardisation to be applied to school policies and procedures, even as principals were given the flexibility to implement rotational attendance systems and the effect of quarantine arrangements on school operations.
However TTUTA maintained their position that forms five and six students would only be cleared for physical attendance, specifically for the completion of practical subject elements.
In addition, TTUTA also requested an opportunity to discuss the draft recommendations provided by the Ministry of Education with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO).
The ministry stated to determine the way forward for Terms II and III 2021/2022 and the Government will take into consideration the recommendations given by stakeholders, the national health circumstances and the education landscape.
