Plan B in Place if COVID Cancels Face-to-Face Classes

Francis Fonseca

Dates have been set for the reopening of secondary and primary schools, but those days in late August are subject to change, depending on the ebb and flow of COVID-19 cases across the country.  While the Ministry of Education is forging ahead with back-to-school preparations, there is the likelihood that the 2021 academic calendar will commence with remote learning should the spread of the virus not be contained before the arranged starting dates.  According to Minister Francis Fonseca, several plans are already in place if the need arises to call off face-to-face instructions.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“The dates are August twenty-third for secondary schools and August thirtieth for primary schools.  We’ve always planned for a hybrid approach to education so our plan has always been about having a hybrid approach, blended learning, remote learning, as well as face-to-face instruction with the hope that we could have full face-to-face instruction.  That has always been the plan.  So if it is that the Ministry of Health says to us over the next two weeks or so that they are not recommending that we have face-to-face instructions then we will have to fall back to our original plan which we already have in place for remote learning, online learning.  So that is in place, we’ve discussed that with all of our management and managing authorities across the country.  Our district education centers are working with schools across the communities to make sure that everybody is ready if we have to go that route.  But as I said, we remain hopeful and we have a plan in place.”