Resumption of classes for lower grades depends on vaxx, cyclone season
The announcement for the resumption of classes for lower grades will depend on the uptake in vaccination for students and the upcoming cyclone season.
Minister for Education Premila Kumar made this comment yesterday while announcing the school dates for Years 12 and 13, which will begin from November 1 to January 28, 2022.
Christmas and New Year’s holiday period will be from December 23 to January 3, 2022, after which school will resume on January 4.
Final exams will start on January 17, 2022 and will be held over the course of two weeks, after which exam results are expected to be released by Mid-March.
According to Ms Kumar, the school dates were based on the assumption that there would not be any cyclones during the November to April cyclone season.
However, necessary adjustments to the school dates would be made in the event there is a cyclone.
“Disruptions, no one would know better than the Ministry of Education, what it means when the cyclones come our way; there are always disruptions to schools, teaching and learning,” Ms Kumar said.
“Sometimes some schools are used as evacuation centres; we all know this so for next year even if cyclones come, its nothing new for us. We have to do the same thing, which is first, the priority ¬– the safety of people and we have to ensure people are safe. If their homes are not safe, if they need to be vacated and looking at the severity of damage on the ground and we have to relook at dates.
“If we have cyclones, the dates may change. We have had a lot of problems in our lives and the last thing we need is a cyclone, which is not in our hands.”
Teachers, Vaccination
She also stated that the ministry was making arrangements for 35 teachers for Years 12 and 13 who were stranded in Viti Levu to return to Vanua Levu and 30 teachers to return to Viti Levu.
These teachers have to complete their home quarantine period before school resumes.
To date: 7622 teachers are fully vaccinated, 5110 teachers have received their first dose, 130 teachers were terminated under the ‘No Jab, No Job’ Policy, 64 teachers will be terminated this week after confirming in writing that they will not be vaccinated and 50 teachers have requested for more time to get their exemption certificate from the Ministry of Health.
In total, 344 teachers will be terminated under the ‘No Jab, No Job’ Policy. Of the 4387, Year 12 and 13 teachers, 30 were terminated for non-vaccination, 24 have been replaced and the remaining six will be replaced by early next week.
Masks are mandatory to be worn indoors and in crowded places in school and parents were advised to ensure that children wear multilayered and comfortable masks.