IN a video recording posted on the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s social media page on Thursday, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, confirmed that public schools will remain physically closed for the entire month of April 2021.
This is with the exception of those schools with Grades 10, 11 and 12, where students have been in attendance since November last. Meanwhile, for those learners attending virtual classes, school closed last Friday for the Easter holidays, and is scheduled to be reopened on April 12.

Minister Manickchand, in making her announcement to the nation, noted that after taking a number of factors into consideration, Cabinet thought it best that schools continue to remain closed all April. “For the month of April, we will keep our schools closed. As soon as this information changes we will let you know in updates such as these,” Minister Manickchand said.
Further, she said: “Cabinet has considered the issue again, and took all the matters into consideration, including the robust vaccination programme that we have unfolding presently, the number of persons being vaccinated, the rate at which vaccination is being administered, the availability of vaccination, [and] numbers of new infection.

“The paramount consideration is the safety of all our people, our students, our teachers and the families they go home to. Having considered all of that, we are advised that we cannot open school for the month of April, except for those classrooms we have already reopened, particularly the Grades 10, 11 and 12.”
With that said, the minister took the opportunity to urge all persons to enjoy the Easter holidays, saying: “In the meanwhile, be safe! Have an enjoyable Easter! Remember to wear your mask, and stay appropriately distanced!”
However, notwithstanding the closures for the Easter holidays, some schools will still be opened for students writing the 2021 Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, so as to make up for time lost due to the COVID-19 situation.