No substitute for face-to-face learning

THERE are strong indications of a return to normalcy in the delivery of education. According to statements emanating from the Education Ministry, schools are expected to be re-opened on Monday September 6, after a hiatus of over 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the release, studies have shown that the longer schools are closed, the greater will be its adverse impact on learning outcomes.
While the Ministry of Education has been doing an extraordinary job in providing education delivery through distance learning and other delivery modalities, there can be no substitute for direct face-to-face teaching, especially at the elementary level of schooling.

Our teachers, it must be said, have, by and large, risen to the challenges. They were able to keep the system up and running, despite the novelty of the delivery mode. This is evident from the continuing high attainment rates, especially at the primary and secondary levels. Not to be downplayed also is the role played by parents and guardians in helping to provide that facilitating environment for effective learning outcomes.
The Guyana Government, through the Ministry of Education, must be commended for the several interventions in support of parents to make it easier for children to attend schools. The ‘Because we Care’ programme currently being rolled out by the Ministry of Education has provided a welcome relief to parents/guardians, especially those in the lower income bracket. This has proven all the more beneficial in the current COVID-19 environment and the recent floods, both of which have taken a toll on the economic well-being of Guyanese.

Meanwhile, preparations are in place by the Education Ministry to re-open schools in September. According to Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, students between the ages of 12 and 18 should be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before returning to school, subject of course to parental approval. In fact, the government has already procured 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, thanks to the generosity of the United States Government. This will be used to vaccinate a particular cohort of the school population.  In addition to being vaccinated, the Health Ministry has also advised that students continue to wear masks during school hours to minimise the chances of being affected by the virus. These, in addition to existing measures such as social distancing and santisation guidelines, if properly adhered to, could help to significantly reduce the likelihood of viral infection.

Teachers are expected to be exemplary in this regard. Apart from imparting the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes to those under their charge, they are also role models to students. Teachers are expected to be fully vaccinated and observe all the guidelines set by the Health Ministry.
The Guyana Government has not made it mandatory for teachers to be fully vaccinated again the COVID-19 virus. Vaccination mandates, however, are becoming more common in several countries, and with good reason. Evidence points to the fact that COVID-19 vaccination uptake can reduce transmission and protect everyone.
In the United States, for example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently updated its guidelines to advise on a universal masking requirement for students, teachers and staff. This is in addition to the imperative of being fully vaccinated.

Fortunately, a substantial number of teachers in Guyana are already vaccinated against the virus, if not fully, at least partially. It is expected that the unvaccinated will do so as a matter of urgency, if only out of concern for the health and safety of those entrusted under their charge. According to experts, vaccination has proven to be much more effective in terms of reducing transmission rates and is a preferred option especially for those who interface with members of the public on a regular basis.
The health and safety of our children are paramount. The government is doing everything within its power to return the country to a state of normalcy.

The decision to re-open schools is a move in that direction. Everyone, however, must play their part, especially our educators and those who, in one way or the other, interact with our children. The fact is that we are still, as it were, not out of the woods. Despite the best efforts of the administration, infection rates still continue to be a matter of concern. The PPP/C administration is doing a commendable job in ensuring that an adequate supply of the vaccine is available to the population. This latest procurement of the Pfizer vaccine for our school children is yet another manifestation of the commitment of the PPP/C administration to the health and well-being of the Guyanese people.

 

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