Schools which reopened this week chose to do so to help exam cohort, says Education Minister

 

Education Minister Fayval Williams has said the 22 schools which reopened this week, chose to do so, largely because they wanted to help the examination cohort.

 

She was responding to Jamaica Teachers Association president Jasford Gabriel who said it was illogical for schools to reopen so close to the end of the school term.

 

Mrs Williams said the principals made the decision after being informed that their school would be in the next batch for face-to-face classes. 

 

"Despite the fact that there is only two weeks left for term, they felt that those two weeks would be valuable time for the students, and so we did not see why we should put an obstacle in the way of that situation in which the principals were ready, the school was ready, the parents are ready, the students are ready. Let them take advantage of the remaining two weeks. That could do a lot," she said Thursday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106.

 

Dr. Kasan Troupe, the acting chief education officer, has said the reopening of some schools for the new term on January 4 will depend on the directive from the Ministry of Health. 

 

The ministry is still doing checks as well as visits at the selected schools. However, she said if the situation at any school changes over the Christmas break, "then the Ministry of Health will also direct that particular schools in particular areas should not be considered for opening at this particular time."