Min. Manickchand pleased as students start first day of virtual sessions

Schools across the nation resumed on Monday amidst the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with learners engaging in lessons via online platforms, print packages, radio and television.

Minister of Education, Hon. Priya Manickchand said so far, she is “very pleased” that the Ministry has been able to organise innovative methods for education delivery.

Acknowledging that hinterland students may not be as privileged to access internet and television connectivity as coastland students, Minister Manickchand said students in vulnerable areas were being prioritised for print package distributions.

“Every effort should be made to distribute print material, workbooks, worksheets, textbooks to that [hinterland] cohort first and then to the coastland cohort,” Minister Manickchand said.

Moreover, the Education Minister said while nothing could replace the true value of a teacher in a classroom, this has so far, been a good attempt to resume learning.

Guyana has been applauded by its Caribbean counterparts. The Minister said she had received calls for guidance on how to set up a similar educational structure in parts of the Region.

Schools have been closed to face-to-face learning since Guyana recorded its first case of COVID-19 in March. The move by the Ministry of Education to reopen schools using the blended techniques has been implemented after careful assessments and numerous multi-stakeholder consultations. Some $300 million has been set aside in the 2020 National Budget for its sustainable implementation.