The 290 students set to return to President’s College for classes from today will be housed in the school’s dormitories under strict guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand yesterday said this would ensure the safety and well-being of those returning students, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.
Addressing parents at the Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara school, the Minister said the ministry with parents’ permission would test and quarantine each student to ensure they are not carriers of the virus.
“The reality is that if we test a large enough number, some people will have a positive result because you are coming from all over this country that has positive cases and so they will be tested and quarantined for a bit,” Manickchand said.
Alternatively, parents could choose to have their children attend the school closest to them.
“We are not going to be coming after anyone in any truancy campaign to lock you up or charge you to inquire why you did not send your children. The choice is up to you; we feel that we have to provide the option for parents and students who cannot access education through Zoom, internet or any other option but … you do not have to do this,” Manickchand said, according to DPI.
Several measures have been taken to keep both teachers and students safe through the installation of sinks with running water and distribution of care packages.
Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who accompanied the Education Minister, told the gathering that the students would be subjected to PCR tests to be administered by a medical team stationed at the school.
Those who test positive would be isolated.
“We want to do that in a very safe environment, and when we mean safe, we want to ensure that all of the things that we do here, especially for those in the dorms, that they follow all of the protocols that we have in place to ensure that they remain safe,” Dr. Anthony said.
