EDUCATION Month 2021 has been launched amid a COVID-19 environment which has posed challenges to the education system globally, as well as politically motivated protests against the government’s vaccination policy.

The month is being observed under the theme, “Education for all: Innovative teaching and learning in a global pandemic”.

Happening simultaneously on Wednesday was the launch of the Education Strategic Development Plan for 2021 to 2025. This hallmark plan points to the challenges in the education system, and ways to tackle them.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand was quick to make the following observation: “From the time the PPP/C was elected into office in 1992, it began to work on, and published soon thereafter, a five-year plan. A new plan was crafted and published every five years. And we have seen the progress of the sector. From more trained teachers to universal primary education, to better facilities and far better results. For all the time APNU+AFC was in office, no plan was published.”

The new plan features the input of teachers, parents, students and other key education stakeholders.
It should be noted that while the ministry was busy with the launch of Education Month, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) was also busy, but in a different manner.

The GTU had joined a class action in taking the government to court over its insistence that all teachers must be vaccinated or tested weekly before they return to the schools.

The GTU is saying that the government’s policy puts teachers to choose between their jobs and their health. It seems they are not in favour of the decision to reopen the schools for enhanced learning, even though the pandemic is still claiming the lives of Guyanese at an alarming rate.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has intensified its drive to have all school-aged children vaccinated against COVID-19, and safely away from harm by the new school year, which begins on September 6, 2021.

The World Health Organisation data suggests that children under 18 years represent about 8.5 per cent of reported cases, with relatively few deaths compared to other age groups, and typically mild disease. However, there are still reports of cases of critical illness.

Vaccination of children could mean saving other lives. This move is a step in the right direction. The launching of Education Month and the education five-year strategic plan is just what all stakeholders needed. It will help them to understand where the ministry is, and intends to go. After all, World Bank Representative, Ricardo Habalian said the bank has estimated that Guyanese children have lost about one year of education, with the 17 months of school closure. Also, the UNICEF Representative, Nicholas Pron said that the consultations and engagements with stakeholders, local and international, by the Ministry of Education are an excellent demonstration of consultation and partnership.

That said, it is worthy to note that the APNU+AFC is not leading the masses responsibly and practically. It is clear that they want to disrupt any normalcy regarding the return to face-to-face learning.

Education is a right that citizens enjoy, regardless of race, age, political affiliation and religion. This point is why schools are being reopened in a safe and protected manner.
It is unfortunate that some teachers are saying that schools should not be reopened when the virus is gone, and are even resisting attempts to get vaccinated.

Now is not the time to make education into a political football. Children learn better in face-to-face settings, and the government has done all it could to ensure there are vaccines for everyone.
It is time to end the vaccine hesitancy, so that schools and other public environments are safe. This will allow for a quicker return to normalcy.