Face-to-face classes delayed again

The return to face-to-face classes has been pushed back further.

Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw told the large crowd gathered at the last political meeting at Bay Street on Tuesday night that the date would now be February 21, one month later than the previous January 22 date.

And she further announced that the return would be phased.

She said: “If we did not have cases rising in the last few days we would have been able to go back to school on the 22nd, but the reality is that we have to play it safe. We are watching what is happening and we are committed to the 21st of February being the date that we start to put things in motion for safe return of our children back in the classroom.”

Bradshaw stressed that the Ministry was ensuring that children returned to safe environments.

“You are well aware that I have been confronted by unions in Barbados. People now vying for political office frustrated the efforts time and time again to get your children into schools. We have made a commitment that we will get your children back to school safely,” as she spoke about the effects the different COVID variants had bene having on the country.

“We have a responsibility to make sure that we are able to see the spike and we are able to see it come back down before you can return, but I can report to you proudly that despite the variant we have been preparing; we have been making sure our schools are ready; we have been engaging with our stake holders.”

Bradshaw pointed out that Barbados was one of the few Caribbean countries to have safety monitors in schools, as she urged parents to use the time to give  their children “the necessary guidance and prepare the space for them to be able to learn”.

In terms of the physical plants she stated: “We have decommissioned all the isolation facilities in this country that were schools because we understood that we have to get our children back in schools.”

She also revealed that the Ministry of Education had struck a “deal” with the Barbados Light & Power to assist parents who did not have electricity. (MB)