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Re-opening of school uncertain

HeadlineRe-opening of school uncertain

BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 20, 2020– Today would have been the day on which most students in Belize would have returned to school following the Easter break, but the country remains under lockdown as it fights to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. The Ministry of Education announced today that no date has so far been set for the re-opening of schools. Minister of Education Patrick Faber made the announcement via the Government Press Office webcast.

Belize’s State of Emergency is expected to continue until the end of the month, after which the government will have to decide on the way forward in terms of the gradual re-opening of the country and economy.

While there is no specific timeline for the reopening of schools, Hon. Faber announced that the Ministry will be developing distance learning. He explained that, firstly, the Ministry of Education will develop educational material that will be broadcasted on radio and television and will be tailored for pre-school and primary school children.

Minister Faber said that the first broadcast will be on Monday, April 27.

In addition to the radio and television lessons broadcasts, the Ministry will begin to put out a newspaper-like publication that will be widely circulated.

“It is our aim to make thousands of copies of this available at the pre-primary and primary levels,” Faber said.

Faber also said that the ministry is planning to have the publication available at banks and grocery shops across the country. The publication and the television and radio newscasts will contain up to two weeks of educational content.

All of the information that will be broadcasted and published in the newspaper will also be available at the Ministry of Education website, said the Minister.

Faber went on to say that at the secondary and ITVET levels, the Ministry will help to develop a learning plan that will accommodate more students, especially students who are marginalized due to their economic situation.

The Ministry will also assist in printing materials for students at the secondary level who have no access or limited access to the technology. “This will be done by a newspaper print that will be circulated in the same way that we are doing for pre-school and primary school students”, he said.

At the tertiary level, the Ministry will review and advise on plans for program completion to ensure that adequate plans are made for the closure of the school year.

Minister Faber added that teachers are important in the overall Ministry of Education plan, as it requires that teachers do their part.

Preschool and primary school teachers are required to inform parents and to encourage them to use the resources provided by the Ministry of Education or from other pedagogical sources.

“We expect that teachers will periodically check on students’ progress and we expect that teachers will be engaged on-line with professional development courses”, said the Minister of Education..

“At the high school and ITVET levels, we expect that teachers will develop or identify learning resources. We expect that they will engage students in on-line and other forms of distance education. We expect that they will present students with varied opportunities to learn contents and develop skills”, Minister Faber said.

The Minister went on to announce that in terms of graduation for pre-school children, those students who are 3-years-old should be promoted to the next level. And those students who are 4-years old should receive their certificates and transition into primary schools.

For primary school students, the Minister said, all students from Infant 1 to Standard 5 are expected to be promoted. All Standard 6 students and those who have reached 14 years of age are expected to graduate from primary school in accordance with Education Rule 128-3.

The Minister stressed that students who are in need of special assistance and need to be brought up to par should be given assistance by their schools and teachers.

“Students in high school from 1st Form to 3rd Form — once they get into their new class, the remedial work of bringing them up to speed should begin post-haste”, said the Minister, who added that school boards are asked to adjust graduation requirements such as community service. Schools are asked to seek counsel from the Ministry of Education if there are concerns on these particular matters.

Where possible, ITVET trainees will continue to be engaged by their instructors on the theoretical aspects of training and will participate in home-based learning during the period of school closure.

The Minister said, however, that trainees will not be certified until completion of practical and on-the-job training.

Previous national and regional exams are also points of concern, Minister Faber said. The Belize Junior Achievement Test (BJAT) will not be administered this academic year.

Minister Faber added that this exam will be used as a diagnostic tool at the start of Standard 4.

The Primary School Exam (PSE) will also not be administered this academic year.

The Minister said that the already printed exam will be given to assess the competency of 1st Form students, so that targeted academic support can be provided to those who need it.

Belize cannot participate in the 2020 sitting of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and CAPE exams as presently scheduled. Minister Faber said that the Ministry of Education is still in dialogue with the stakeholders and is hoping to find a way forward that works for Belize.

Grants and scholarships that are dependent upon the outcome of these exams are currently being looked at, he said.

The Ministry of Education advises schools to extend their registration deadlines for the new school year until circumstances improve.

   Minister Faber also stated that the government subsidy for high school students from 1st Form to 4th Form will have to be revisited. “The government is under a serious financial crunch,” said the Education Minister.

Feature photo: Hon. Patrick Faber

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