Prepare for school closures, parents warned
PARENTS HAVE been urged by Prime Minister Andrew Holness to prepare to keep their children at home should the outbreak of COVID-19 threaten mass closures.
In a press briefing yesterday evening, Holness announced that amid fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, Cabinet has approved protocols for the closure of schools subject to consultation.
This disclosure came after the declaration that a second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed here.
The prime minister, however, noted that one concern is the need for parents to make preparations for the care of their children during what would have been school hours.
“If we were to abruptly close schools, parents, some of them will be in a quandary, in how do we make provisions for the home care of children. So we are signalling, and we hope all parents will start to make necessary preparations and should be able to respond should it become necessary,” Holness said.
Holness also said that any decision to shutter schools would take into consideration the displacement of students sitting external examinations.
He disclosed that over a period of 24 hours, the minister overseeing the Ministry of Education, Karl Samuda, would have consultations with teachers and other stakeholders.
Some tertiary institutions have already signalled that they would reduce person-to-person contact for tutelage, a decision the prime minister has endorsed.
The Mandeville-based Northern Caribbean University announced on Tuesday that it would be offering more classes online in response to coronavirus concerns.