– says Minister Henry as concerns raise over children roaming streets amid COVID-19 pandemic

DESPITE the closure of schools, and the Ministry of Public Health’s advisory for citizens to remain at home, there are increasing reports of school-aged children roaming the streets, pastures and playgrounds.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Education, Nicolette Henry, said while she is unaware of the issue, parents must do more to keep their children safe.
“I’m not aware of such, but if that were the case, I would say that there is more supervision that is needed in the homes,” the Education Minister told this newspaper.
Minister Henry said it is crucial that adults play their role in ensuring that children observe the safety measures outlined by the health authorities, inclusive of social and physical distancing.

“Children always have to be supervised, they always have to guided, they have to be given good guidance and direction and as adults, we have to do our due diligence because it is our responsibility to ensure [that the youths are sheltered],” she said.

Minister Henry further stressed that it takes a community to raise and protect children, especially during the current health crisis, adding that “every responsible adult should be vigilant and step in whenever they see children put themselves in harms way.”

CHALLENGES STILL REMAIN
Additionally, while taking into consideration that not every child would have access to Information Communication Technology (ICT) hubs, Internet and other academic materials, the minister admitted that the Education Sector is still challenged with administering the curriculum.

“Well we know schools are out and so that obviously poses a challenge for the ministry to execute its work, since we function in the classroom…in some homes they may not have the things that many people take for granted in order to have the classroom setting; it depends on the work space, the number of children in a home, the different methodologies they’re using — some are using workbooks, some are using Internet,” Minister Henry explained.

However, she noted that this will need an all-hands-on deck approach not only from the ministry, but from everyone.

“I think for every ministry of education, every country in the world, they have had challenges. The first being, for some age groups you have to rely on in-classroom activities; as such, for the [pupils] in the nursery level the ministry is relying on the parents to do their part …if you don’t have the parental supervision, then you know what’s going to happen,” she stated.

While acknowledging that the government had put a lot of its effort and time in ensuring that there are sufficient educational infrastructure and ITC hubs across the country, the greatest need right now exists within the homes of citizens.

Nevertheless, the minister noted that staffers, teachers and other education officials have been working above and beyond, and will continue to work to ensure that every child is receiving a sound education, as more strategies and resources become available.