The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Union of Teachers has argued a plan must be in place for all aspects of the educational system before teachers and students return, questioning how social distancing will take place in crowded classrooms.

According to a union document titled "Spotlight in Education", written by BUT president Belinda Wilson, it is essential for the Ministry of Education to hold a conclave/meeting to come up with a comprehensive plan prior to the reopening of private and public schools.

Limited educational operations, including national examinations based on appropriate social distancing and masks, would happen in phase three of the government's reopening the economy plan.

Although the union recognises there is no definitive time for schools to open, Mrs Wilson said the ministry should still make preparations.

"Understandably, there were no dates or timelines included in the above plan, however, it is paramount that the Ministry and the Department of Education plan and prepare for the eventuality of the re-opening of schools be it limited or full," Mrs Wilson noted. "The proactive steps should have already begun, but, if not yet, then now. So, the Ministry/Department of Education has to examine its modus operandi before COVID-19 and during COVID-19.

"…..It would be helpful if the matrix (model) that will be used to determine when it will be safe to re-open schools and that information be made available to the Bahamas Union of Teachers outlining testing, contact tracing and monitoring of students and teachers prior to re-opening. It would be detrimental for 60,000 public and private school students and 7,000 public and private school teachers to be directed to return to schools without this vital information being accessible."

As social distancing is a safety measure to manage the highly-contagious coronavirus, BUT questioned how the practice would be implemented in public schools, which are overcrowded with an average of 35 students, sometimes 40, per class.

"Our classrooms are set up in clusters and the teachers and students are in close proximity to each other," the union document noted.

"….Most classrooms in the public school (system) do not have adequate space to allow for the separation of students' desks at six feet apart and also teachers and students spend a minimum of six hours per day together with five of those hours being confined to the classroom.

"Classroom sizes at our primary schools normally measure in the range of 660 square feet to 720 square feet the former being able to accommodate 25 - 28 students and the latter is able to accommodate a maximum of 40 students. If we are required to follow the guideline of social distancing when schools reconvene then the classrooms that presently accommodate 25 to 40 students will have to be reduced to 18 to 24 students. A reduced number of students in each classroom dictate the need for increased classroom space or even the construction of new schools."

BUT identified several focal points such as a strategic plan with a blended approach for online learning and on campus/face to face instruction as well as drafting new health and safety policies for the workplace in a post COVID-19 school environment to be reviewed by all stakeholders. Draft policies on digital safety, the use of technology in school, and "work from home" were also suggested.

The paper further stated there was no policy to date governing the Ministry of Education's virtual school and it was imperative for an ICT policy to be drafted and reviewed by all groups with vested interest prior to its implementation.

"Again, in drafting policy for online and virtual platforms which may be used for examinations in the future then the following must be considered (1) access for all students (2) measurements for students at the lower socioeconomic access (3) access for physically and mentally challenged, hearing and visually impaired and (4) test integrity," the paper notes.

"Vision must go beyond the limited scope of giving every student a laptop or tablet or connecting all schools to the internet. The policy must go further than devices and internet access. There is the need for internet safety."

Since the launch of the government's online platform during the pandemic, there has been criticism due to the lack of internet and computer access for some students. The Ministry of Education has sought to close the gap with the Bahamas Learning Channel (BLC), which is free on television.