WITH schools expected to remain closed for the foreseeable future, parents and caregivers are now confronted with the reality of an extended period of homeschooling for their school-aged children. The Ministry of Education(MOE)’s recent decision to keep schools closed amid the current coronavirus (COVID-19) global health pandemic was taken to ensure that children remain at home, where they should be safe from the virus as we collectively work to flatten the curve in Guyana. By continuing to practise the recommended hygiene and social-distancing measures, it is hoped that we will eventually see a fall in COVID-19 cases, at which point we should be able to resume our lives.

In the meantime, the MOE, on their website and Facebook pages, has listed a number of Online learning resources that are available to ensure your child’s continuous learning and development at this time. It is strongly recommended that parents, caregivers and students access the Online materials, and incorporate them into their learning schedules.
The onus of teaching has now been shifted to parents and caregivers, who, at this time, might already be adjusting to the new and added pressures of living in quarantine circumstances. We have already covered the financial and economic impacts of COVID-19 on families, and we have already covered some of the social issues now affecting many households. At a time when parents and caregivers are facing mounting pressures, the reality of homeschooling takes on challenging new dimensions. Nonetheless, parents must continue to play a crucial role in their children’s learning and development, in the absence of the formal schooling arrangements we normally have in place. Parents must remain mindful that this is a particularly stressful time for children, and students as well, many of whom were expected to undertake key formal assessments in the Spring and Summer terms.

When this publication spoke with students at the onset of the pandemic, many were concerned about the far-reaching effects that postponing the scheduled assessments and examinations might have on their ability to take the next steps in their learning path.
Although we have a very strong education culture in Guyana, with our students constantly leading the charge in the Caribbean with stellar examination results and performances, nonetheless, we have a number of infrastructural inadequacies, which, at this time, would have an effect on our students’ ability to perform well or at all. For many low-income families who cannot afford laptops or computers, and who do not have access to the Internet, the current circumstance only serves to exacerbate existing barriers to their success. It also raises serious questions about access to education, an important human right, and a key differentiator in breaking social-mobility barriers. Whilst no other alternative than school closures is possible at this time, we must remain cognisant of the barriers which continue to affect low-income families and students. A consorted effort to ensure their inclusivity and access to education at this time is needed.

Despite the current circumstance, there are a number of schools and learning institutions which have taken to Online learning platforms and Online classes to ensure their students remain actively engaged with the learning process. When this publication spoke with a number of schools, both publicly and privately-funded, the shift to Online learning had already commenced. The benefits of this transition are multifold; students are able to attend virtual classes, where they will receive information in the manner in which they are accustomed, and in the traditional learning context. These sessions are interactive, and can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, as many sessions are recorded. Again, there are problems with access to the necessary equipment to facilitate this type of learning for some students, but, surely, Online learning has to be an adequate substitute for conventional learning at this time.

As we collectively try to navigate our world during the current global health pandemic, we must remain mindful of the impact COVID-19 is having upon our children and young people. The rapid transition from a formal learning environment to homeschooling and virtual learning must be considered. Children and students are used to interacting with their teachers and classmates in order to enhance their learning experience, and without the classroom setting, students may be less inclined to stay motivated, and may become bored in this new context. Nonetheless, we must continue to work with our children, and inculcate within them the importance of education, whatever form it takes at this time.