THE Ministry of Health is slated to undertake a ‘comprehensive’ rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme in March of this year, which, once successful, may see schools being reopened for face-to-face learning following the Easter holidays. While this statement was made by Minster of Education, Priya Manickchand, in an update shared on the ministry’s Facebook page, she cautioned that this would be dependent on further advice from the Health Ministry. Heeding worldwide concern regarding education loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister explained that the recommended plan of action is to move back to face-to-face learning “as quickly as possible”, for all levels. “We continue to benefit from the learning across the world, that the best thing to do, as far as we can, to try to continue to engage our children in face-to-face learning. The research suggests that the longer schools stay closed, the more long-term disadvantages we will have; the more students are likely to drop out, the more students are likely to suffer from learning loss, or severe learning loss.”

While noting that students and citizens across Guyana may suffer long-term negative effects from COVID-19, and the inclination to reopen schools to reduce the educational diminution, she highlighted the ministry’s responsibility within the government to keep teachers, learners and their families safe. As such, she outlined the efforts made to establish a balance since her assumption of office on August 2, 2020. “We didn’t bring children back into the classroom, except for our fourth, fifth and sixth formers (10th, 11th and 12th graders), but we employed a series of different means to engage our students. The Guyana Learning Channel was refashioned to deliver education in a scheduled, timetabled way that matches the curriculum; we continue to deliver education on the radio; we have crafted and created worksheets that are specific, and follow the curriculum, and are defined by week in every subject. We send out worksheets that contain what the students would have been learning in the classroom, had they been engaged face-to-face. Those facts and notes are accompanied by lessons and activities that try to reinforce that learning,” she explained. In the meantime, the Ministry of Education continues to work hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health on issues relating to COVID-19, to work towards the safe delivery of education.

For now, schools remain closed for face-to-face learning for the month of March for all grades except Grades 10, 11 and 12. Teachers are encouraged to continue utilising WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook, Edmodo, Google Meet and Classrooms, and other media by which learners have been engaged online. “We encourage teachers to continue marking worksheets, and we encourage parents to continue giving us the hand you’ve been giving us. We know this has not been an easy time for anyone. We’re all terrified that we’re not teaching and delivering to our children the way teachers would. But let us be forgiving of ourselves, and do the best we can in these circumstances,” Minister Manickchand expressed. The Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana continue to work feverishly to get students back into classrooms as promptly as possible, while maintaining the general safety of students, teachers and their families. Until that time, all Guyanese are urged to observe the protocols of the COVID-19 emergency measures, which emphasise the need for correct and consistent use of a face mask when leaving home, the importance of maintaining the six feet physical distance from others, and the need for good hand hygiene to help reduce the spread of the disease.