SCHOOLS have re-opened after a hiatus of nearly 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is indeed such a nice and refreshing feeling to see our children smartly attired in their school uniforms, making their way to and from school. Parents and teachers can now breathe a sigh of relief that things are gradually returning to a state of normalcy in terms of formal education delivery.
The fact is that despite the best efforts of the government to ensure that the education of our children is not adversely affected by the closure of schools, there can be no substitute for face- to-face learning. That personal touch between students and teachers has proven to be very effective in terms of learning outcomes. The daily interactions of students and teachers within the confines of the school are also important from the standpoint of early socialisation skills and in cognitive and emotional growth of children.
The re-opening of schools has been greatly facilitated by the pro-active measures put in place by both the Ministries of Education and Health to ensure that the school environment is safe and that necessary protocols are met to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Both secondary students and teachers are required to be vaccinated against the virus or subject themselves to the required tests to ensure they are COVID-free. Indeed, it was the overwhelming positive response from parents and teachers to the vaccination exercises conducted by the Ministry of Health that facilitated the re-opening of schools within the scheduled timeframe.
There are, however, still a few hurdles to overcome, the main one being vaccine hesitancy among some segments of the population. There are still a significant number of teachers who refuse to be vaccinated for reasons best known to themselves. That is indeed unfortunate; especially given their status in society as role models, especially for those under their charge. A similar pattern can be seen among healthcare workers, especially among nurses and doctors.
Fortunately, these individuals are in the minority and do not constitute a critical mass of the total population. According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Education, roughly 70 per cent of the nursery children and 95 per cent of nursery teachers were at school on the opening day of school while at the primary levels attendance rates for teachers and students were 92 per cent and 65 per cent respectively. These numbers are likely to increase further as the government’s vaccination drive picks up momentum. The re-opening of secondary schools has been momentarily delayed due to the ongoing vaccination exercise among secondary school students.
Interestingly, the statistic on vaccine hesitancy has pointed to a discernible pattern. Regions Four and 10, have the highest incidence of vaccine resistance fuelled by the APNU+AFC political opposition. This is due to conflicting messages sent out by opposition elements, especially in Region 10, which recently mounted an attempted shut down of operations in the mining town of Linden in protest against actions taken by the administration to safeguard the nation against the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus.
Despite the obvious benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines, the political opposition still seeks to make cheap political capital out of a pandemic that could potentially endanger the lives of the entire population. As pointed out by Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, once people are vaccinated, environments will be safer. It is therefore imperative that we seek to create such an environment. In this regard, it is important to look behind the smokescreen created by opposition elements and be on guard against misinformation and political mischief.
Despite attempts to derail the government’s vaccination programme, the efforts of healthcare officials to ensure that the population is vaccinated are still proceeding well. These workers are doing a commendable job despite resistance from the misguided few.
It is time for the political opposition to shift course and acknowledge that the COVID-19 vaccines are not only safe but are the most effective way to contain the spread of the virus. The APNU+AFC Shadow Minister of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, even though acknowledging the benefits and safety of the vaccines, continue to ‘double speak’ by reference to the element of ‘choice’ in taking the vaccine. Such ambiguity is at best counterproductive and sends out conflicting messages to their political constituencies and other victims of misinformation.
It is time for the political opposition to change course and do the right thing. It must not hide behind the fig leaf of opposition politicking and oppose for the sake of scoring perceived political points. Instead, it has a duty and obligation to be truthful to its members and supporters, especially on matters pertaining to the health and safety of Guyanese.
Too much is at stake. The dangers of COVID-19 are real. The infection rates in Guyana continue to rise. The opposition APNU+AFC Coalition must not be allowed to play political football with the health and safety of the Guyanese people.
