While announcing that schools will remain closed for the month of May, the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand has appealed to teachers and parents, especially, to get vaccinated.
Manickchand made the announcement concerning the further closure of schools in a video which was uploaded to the ministry’s Facebook page. In the video, she stated that the Cabinet met yesterday morning and was informed by Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, about various statistics and the vaccination progress. She said that while the cabinet was pleased with the turnout and the smooth process, there is concern about the lack of interest shown by persons to get vaccinated.
The Education Minister said that it was for this reason that it has been decided that schools will continue with online classes while only the classes which have been authorised to return to physical learning will be allowed to attend school. Late last year, Manickchand announced that following a Cabinet decision, schools would reopen for face-to-face engagements for the cohort of students in Grades 10, 11, and 12, as well as for all Practical Instruction Centres (PICs) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Centres, which make up over 12% of the student population countrywide.
Yesterday, she said that following the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines and the recent change of eligibility from 40 years and older to 18 years and older, “I am encouraging persons, particularly teachers and parents and grandparents. To go out and take the vaccine as we have the vaccine.” While noting that the decision to take the vaccine is a completely voluntary, she reminded that the government has gone to great lengths to make this vaccine available when many countries are yet to receive any. Manickchand expressed the hope that teachers will decide to take the vaccine.
She pointed out that if schools are to be reopened as many persons seem to want, then persons have to become vaccinated and have to encourage others to do the same. “If you have an interest in having our schools open, then you have to have an interest in letting as many people as you know take the vaccine because that’s the only way that we are going to change the picture of COVID. If you want to see your children back in the classroom and you think that’s good for them. Then you need to take the vaccine as parents. If as teachers you are concerned about your children being out of school for so long. You need to take the vaccine as teachers. And so I’m appealing to all to let sense prevail and to use the opportunity provided by this government to get vaccinated,” Manickchand implored.
