The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

Tribune Staff Reporter

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

MANY schools nationwide are now already instructing students “100 percent face-to-face,” according to Minister of Education, Technical, and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin.

“The green light was given last week,” she told The Tribune on Saturday. “Each school formed committees to scrutinise protocols and roll out once everything is in place. As a result many schools nationwide are now already in 100 percent face-to-face. I can update on Monday how many schools and where. Next week we anticipate even more schools to jump in.”

Last week, Bahamas Union of Teachers president Belinda Wilson said in the union’s view, most schools in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands were ready for the full return of face-to-face instruction.

However, she said at the time that schools in New Providence need to individually determine their readiness due to their issues.

“At least two of the Family Islands schools since reopening face-to-face have been temporarily interrupted because of COVID-19 positive cases and teachers and students being placed into quarantine,” Mrs Wilson said in a voice note sent to The Tribune.

“On the other hand, New Providence, the largest district with the largest student population and teacher complement will examine fully the health and safety protocols, the class capacity and teacher shortages.

“And after discussions with their principals and staff, each school will determine their readiness and/or suitability for the reopening of each school face-to-face in a phased approach. Obviously, large class sizes and teacher shortages are clearly impediments to increasing numbers, the number of students for face-to-face and/or 100 percent return in the midst of this COVID pandemic,” she said last week.

This comes as COVID-19 infections have been trending down in recent weeks.