ANNA CADIZ-HADEED
THE PRIME Minister’s address to the nation on November 25 summarised the pandemic from the very beginning, walking us through details of the international as well as our own response to managing the covid19 virus. The PM went on to reference 13 countries across the globe, noting the strict measures put in place to safeguard their people, economies and schools.
TT boasts about following international best practice issued by WHO, PAHO and several other UN agencies, looking at what has and has not worked in other nations in order to guide informed decisions about what we should do. Why then have we not followed international best practice when it comes to managing schools and safeguarding education?
[caption id="attachment_928352" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Anna Cadiz-Hadeed -[/caption]
Prioritise primary schools and early childhood care centres
Despite the authorities’ obstinate insistence that upper secondary school students be the only ones allowed to attend school in person, best practice shows us that it should be the younger years at the top of the list. Children under five are at a key stage for critical brain development and formation of social and cognitive skills, all of which are crucial for a person’s academic and later economic success. The pre- and primary schools and the seemingly forgotten day care centres should be the very first to reopen.
In his address, the PM named four other Caribbean countries, including Barbados, which, after initially closing all schools in March 2020, reopened preschools in June and primary schools in September that year. January 2021 saw all schools closed again. However, after just a few weeks, preschools once again led the way with reopening.
Primary schools remained online for that term (January to March) but went back to in-person classes after Easter. Although this current term (September to December) has seen Barbados schools back online, it is critical to note that not only have Bajan preschools been open all along, but the government has put forward a clear plan for the resumption of in-person classes in January.
Preschools and Day Care centres are essential services
Barbados’s approach, much like that of a majority of countries, has been to prioritise in-person education as much as possible. In mid-2020, the government began training caretakers in the public and private sectors to safely reopen day care centres and preschools, understanding the key role that safe and reliable childcare plays in workforce participation.
When Barbados recently had a spike in cases, schools went back to online learning. However, the day care centres remained open with Prime Minister Mottley recognising the essential service they provide – looking after the children of essential workers.
Last to close and first to reopen
School closures have indeed been necessary as part of an overall strategy to manage covid19. However, during pe
