Regional Chairman David Armogan yesterday announced that Region Six is fully prepared for the reopening of schools on Monday to facilitate face-to-face learning, explaining that teachers will be responsible for ensuring social distancing and the wearing of masks in classrooms.
“We are well prepared for the reopening of schools,” Armogan stressed yesterday, adding that a number of schools within the region have undergone rehabilitation works. However, he noted that the contracts for those works were given out early so as to have the schools completed in time for the reopening.
At the Regional Democratic Council’s statutory meeting yesterday, APNU Councillor, Shurla Scott, questioned how prepared the schools really are to deal with students returning to face-to-face learning, as she opined, “We are not ready.”
Armogan told Scott, who asked specifically about social distancing among other issues, that teachers will be tasked with “monitoring” the students , adding “We have to take it that teachers are trained to do what they have to do.”
He continued, “I don’t think in this country the entire government is so stupid that they would implement something to endanger our students, there would have been things put in place already.” He noted that the systems put in place would have already been vetted also. “From what I know these things have already been put in place… The teachers have been apprised of what they have to do, there will be social distancing in class rooms.”
The chairman then pointed out that all schools will not be reopened for the entire day and various grades/levels will attend on specified days as planned by the Ministry of Education.
He assured that all schools were equipped with hand washing sinks and stressed that if anyone is aware of a school that does not have this facility then it should be brought to their attention immediately.
“My body, my choice”
Meanwhile, a group of teachers’ yesterday morning held a protest outside of the Region Six Department of Education located in New Amsterdam, claiming that they had received information that unvaccinated teachers would not be allowed entry into schools on Monday.
The protesting teachers stood in the sun as they shouted “Our body, our choice”, “My body, my choice”, “No mandatory vaccine.”
While most of the teachers refused to speak to this newspaper, one noted that their protest was in an effort “to make their voices be heard.”
Also claiming that he had received information that unvaccinated teachers would be barred from entering school compounds once school reopens for face-to-face learning, the teacher declared, “We are sending a message that teachers will not be tolerating that.”
He also insisted that the COVID-19 vaccines should not be mandatory and if teachers opt to not receive the vaccine then they should not be barred from entering schools on Monday.
