So far, student turnout for Easter term lower than previous term - Manickchand

Minister of Education Priya Manickchand yesterday said that her ministry will know the true extent of the effects of the novel coronavirus on the education system after CAPE and CSEC registration as she disclosed that the number of students present for the Easter term is less than that of the Christmas term.

Speaking to this newspaper yesterday about the turnout of the Grades 10, 11 and 12 students who are returning to school for the Easter Term, the Education Minister said that based on information garnered by her ministry, the turnout is less than was seen for the Christmas term. She said that the turnout is hovering just over 50 per cent. For the Christmas term it was related that there was above 60 per cent turnout of students.

Manickchand however noted that it is not yet certain whether this turnout is due to students dropping out or because students have decided to take the option of remaining at home rather than returning to physical classrooms. She said that students have been given the option of homeschooling as the Ministry understands that some persons are rightfully skeptical about being thrown back into the physical class setting amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. She said that more accurate figures will be available when students sign up for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Education examinations, “as then we would know how many persons have been preparing and hence, still a part of the school system.” She however cautioned that the turnout only represents the first week of school.

Schools were reopened for the commencement of the Easter term on January 4. Students are being engaged by virtual means, print material, and radio/television broadcasts. The grades 10, 11, and 12 students are the only students allowed to return to physical classrooms but these sessions can be decided by the teachers and the school itself.