The Education Ministry has emphasised that secondary school students preparing for exit examinations are allowed to physically be at institutions to conduct specific activities.
These students, in grades 11, 12 and 13, are allowed to go the school, in order to complete critical time-bound activities attendant to the preparation for all exit examinations, and guided by the COVID 19 protocols.
Such activities include : diagnostic tests – standardized or internal; completion of labs and practical assignments; collection of books and other resources to support learning; and, submission of exam registration documents.
In a bulletin, the ministry said while students are being accommodated for these activities, school administrators will continue to utilize a blend of the approved learning approaches, to ensure the continued education of students.
It said students utilizing the audio-visual and the learning-kit approaches, need to complete assignments and be in communication with their teachers, who will mark the assignments, and return them to the students, as per the agreed schedule.
The ministry added that it continues consultations with the health ministry, to guide the process of the phased resumption of face-to-face instruction. It said as soon as more secondary-level students can benefit from this modality, the information will be shared with stakeholders.
Meantime, Education Minister Fayval Williams said getting more secondary-level children vaccinated, is vital to the resumption of face-to-face lessons.
She noted that while her ministry, awaits the go-ahead from the Health Ministry, crucial maintenance and COVID protocol works, continue at institutions.
She was speaking at the Kiwanis Club of North St Andrew virtual meeting, Thursday evening.
Meantime, Cabinet’s subcommittee on COVID is to meet Friday to discuss a proposal from the Education Ministry on the resumption of face-to-face classes. Prime minister Andrew Holness said consideration is being given to having vaccinated students back in the classroom.
However, this decision will be guided by consideration of the covid positivity rate.