Education officials have once again
raised the ire of the country’s two teachers unions, amid allegations that COVID-19 protocols established before the resumption of school are not being implemented across the board.
The concerns are expected to dominate the unions’ talks with senior civil servants on Wednesday as the country grapples with the second case of the deadly virus at a secondary school within the first seven days of the new term.
On Monday morning, students of the Ellerslie Secondary School were turned away from classes because of what was later identified as a positive case within the student population. Late last week, a student of the Princess Margaret Secondary School tested positive and another at St George Primary School was said to have been exposed to the virus.
Article by Social Share
The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is currently investigating a report of another positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in a secondary school.
President of the BUT Pedro Shepherd told Nation News that while he had not yet received official confirmation from the Ministry of Education, he had received reports that a Sixth Form student at the Ellerslie Secondary School in Black Rock, St Michael has tested positive for the virus.
“I am still awaiting word from the ministry, but if this is indeed the case, it is going to be the expectation going forward as schools open back up. I don’t think we need to panic over these things at this stage, we have to quarantine, isolate and manage the situation,” Shepherd said.
While B&G reopens, BUT concerns shift to St Philip school
Article by May 7, 2021
The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) expressed concern Thursday about conditions at the St Martin’s-Mangrove Primary School even as in-person classes at the Blackman & Gollop Primary School went back on track.
BUT Vice President Rudy Lovell who made the rounds at schools throughout the day told
Barbados TODAY he was generally satisfied with his observations at Blackman & Gollop which underwent a major clean-up the day before.
“On the inside, the students would have been engaged [in classes]. There is no presence of ash. I spoke to the principal she is satisfied. The teachers there are satisfied,” he said.
May 7, 2021
There is no outbreak of COVID-19 at the Princess Margaret Secondary School and no reason to panic.
So says Minister of Health and Wellnes Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic who this evening sought to quell fears that the respiratory illness was rampant at the St Philip institution as well as at the St George Primary School.
During a nationally-televised press conference Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George confirmed that health authorities were investigating exposures at the two schools.
He said while one student at Princess Margaret had tested positive, no positive cases had yet been identified at St George Primary.
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Springer Memorial principal Mitchelle Maxwell (left) and her deputy Cheryl Gill showing one of the classrooms set up
in keeping with physical distancing protocols for a dozen students. - (Picture by Jameel Springer.) Social Share
All systems appear set for children and teachers to return to classrooms for face-to-face learning from Monday.
Several schools were doing final preparations yesterday on the grounds and in classrooms, even as the Ministry of Education tried to ascertain which institutions will be ready, with the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) saying it was prepared to follow the ministry’s lead.
A new year spike in COVID-19 cases put the brakes on plans for full return to face-to-face classes after online and blended learning last year. The planned April 19 return was further halted by the volcanic ash fall from La Soufriere in St Vincent on April 9.