By Vishani Ragobeer

THE Ministry of Education (MoE) is working to improve its preparedness for any other eventuality which may disrupt schooling in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr Marcel Hutson.

Following the first case and death in March, schools were forced to close in Guyana in order to reduce the spread. As such, learning was taken to the virtual space. This was not a perfect system, however, as there is a myriad of internet and technological disparities in Guyana.

“It is the first time something like this (the pandemic) has happened and we are not going to be caught like this again,” the CEO said, in a recent interview with the Sunday Chronicle.

While the ministry is currently contending with the challenges presented by COVID-19, Dr Hutson highlighted a number of programmes which the Ministry is crafting to safeguard from future challenges.

One of those solutions has been to work on creating question banks so that teachers would readily have questions to disseminate should any disaster, which prevents or disrupts physical schooling, arise again. It was explained that this will allow teachers and students to readily have resource materials.

Additionally, the CEO related that the Ministry is advancing its ‘tech agenda’ to ensure that the education system itself is internet ready. To this end, he welcomed the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, sharing his belief that increased competition will allow better internet access opportunities for children across Guyana.

Part of the agenda to advance technology includes facilitating the agreement with Pro Futuro, which will allow over 5,000 boys and girls from communities across Guyana to benefit from the use of technologies, and incorporating innovative methodologies in classrooms at the primary level.

The Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, recently highlighted that the ministry would provide tablets to students in Indigenous Communities to allow them to access virtual classes.

The other solution the Ministry will be focusing on is to create a “safe school policy” which would prepare schools for any disaster, such as a flood. Dr Hutson, however, could not provide further details on this policy other than to say it is part of the effort to prepare for any “eventuality”.

Minister Manickchand, in a recent public forum, also emphasised that the Ministry was working towards improving the education sector, in light of the current deficiencies found in the COVID-19 response.