South Rupununi council wants better policies to protect schoolchildren against COVID-19

The South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) is calling on the government to ensure that better policies are put in place to protect schoolchildren in South Rupununi communities against COVID-19.

In a statement yesterday, the SRDC said that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Indigenous communities, especially as it relates to the education sector. They highlighted this inequity as it relates to the education system in the hinterland, pointing out that there are limited options when it came to engaging children during the closure of schools with many having to rely on work sheets to access some form of education. The SRDC let it be known that such limitations have proved very challenging for many communities.

As a result, the SRDC welcomed the government’s decision to reopen schools on September 6 for face-to-face learning, while reminding that education for Indigenous children is critical for the future development and sustainability of communities in the South Rupununi.

However, the organisation noted that within a few days of reopening, several children of the Aishalton Primary School under the age of 12 tested positive for the virus, forcing the school to close for a period of time.

“This experience has exposed glaring gaps in the Education Ministry’s policy for the safe reopening of schools in the country but more importantly, in the hinterland where medical care, facilities and supplies have always been at a minimal. Many schools are still awaiting sanitizing supplies and support to guarantee that the classrooms are safe and conducive to proper learning. Additionally, when there are delays in decisions to suspend classes our children’s health is being put further at risk. Awaiting a decision by regional authorities has shown to be a slow process,” the statement said.

The SRDC subsequently made a call on the Ministry of Education, to ensure that all its schools have adequate sanitising supplies and support; health centres have adequate medical supplies to respond to an outbreak; establish a rapid response team of which the Toshao, Health worker, Headteacher should be a part of to make an emergency decision on whether classes should be suspended until a proper medical assessment can be done; and to outline a clear response process which applies to South Rupununi communities.

“Without this critical support the Ministry is placing our children and by extension our wider community at a high risk of contracting the virus,” the statement concluded.