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dumplings that’s had with a glass of water. At times they rely on the goodwill of others who may leave money with them to ensure the children are fed.
Close by, Kay-ann Taylor, mother of three, said since the onset of the coronavirus is something we all have to live with, she is at the point where she will “suit up her children and send them off to school” as she is worried that they will not recover from the lost time.
“Let us make our choice to send our kids to school; If is even three days per week. We will suit dem up and send dem, mek dem wear mask and sanitise. We have to live with it and we’ve been doing it for almost two years, but online school is not for young children. I bought books, got uniforms, paid school fee for my four-year-old and now she is at home missing out. She never see a class yet. She needs a teacher to sit her down face to face and help her. One year worth a money gone down the drain,” Taylor said.
Another mother, Kayon Edwards, said while her son has a tablet, it’s the Internet services that hinder his ability to get the hours of instruction needed.
“Him only get work sometime, as mi can only put on Internet sometimes, like once or twice a week. There is no work and nobody not helping us. It would be good if they could prepare somewhere we can send them, like a centre. To be honest we will get a chance to feed them, but it’s the education that is the problem,” she said. “If is to even send them somewhere they can go and learn. Those not going to school we just want them to be able to go and learn to read and write. Do it off shift. If is even few hours or three times per week or something.”
Meanwhile, the mothers asked for assistance in gaining employment in order to help their children better with access to education.
“Nuff pickni roun’ here nah go no school at all... just a play a day time. You have some never go a school from the day dem born,” one said.