By Prior Beharry
STUDENTS in Forms One to Three are to return to physical classes in February 2020.
This was revealed in a press release by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
The ministry stated that the decision was made after consultation with stakeholder groups on November 25 and 26 and with the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) on December 10. It noted that TTUTA recommended physical attendance for Forms 5 and 6 for practical subject elements only.
The ministry stated that for the period October 4 to December 10 when Forms Four to Six were allowed to attend physical school along with teachers and other staff there were 162 positive Covid-19 cases reported.
Schools were closed in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic but examination and lab students in Forms Four to Six have subsequently been allowed back to physical school since October.
It stated, “While there are many different views on school re-opening throughout Trinidad and Tobago, the government has a mandate to preserve both the health and education of our future leaders- in that expressed order of priority.”
Therefore, it stated that it made the following decision for Term II:
- Post-secondary and tertiary students will be allowed to attend physical classes for teaching and practicals from January 2022;
- All students of Forms 4 to 6 or equivalent will attend school physically for teaching classes, practicals and school-based assessments from January 3, 2022;
- Students of Forms 1 to 3 or equivalent are required to remain engaged in remote learning in January 2022, allowing schools to plan for their return to physical attendance in February 2022, on a rotational basis;
- Primary Schools will continue to operate remotely in Term II, with the exception of Standard 5 students, who will attend school physically from February 2022;
- The SEA will be held on March 31, 2022. Delaying this exam, as was done in 2020 and 2021, results in many challenges; the major ones being the myriad difficulties of administering CXC and SEA exams concurrently; and the uncertainty of students with respect to transfer applications and the results of SEA reviews- which may result in them switching schools while already enrolled in Form 1; and
- ECCE Students, along with Standards 1 to 4 will resume physical attendance, on a rotational basis, in Term III (April 2022).
