The Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Cora Richardson Hodge, and her colleague, Mr. Cardigan Connor, have commented on three educational matters of much significance to parents, guardians, teachers and students.
This came as the Ministry and Department of Education embarked on e-learning for the first two weeks since the start of the new school year on Monday, September 6.
Mrs Richardson Hodge said that the teachers had worked very hard preparing to occupy the newly-constructed primary schools, to begin face-to-face classroom instruction there, with the exception of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School still under construction.
She observed that the Ministry and Department, and the teachers, had eventually shifted going into the schools to conduct the virtual e-learning system due to the protocols regarding COVID-19 situation. She noted that it was stated by the educational officials that the online system was initially for a two-week period. She was, however, of the opinion that a case by case review might really determine whether the schools should not remain online for a further period. The former Minister of Education stressed that, while the students obviously enjoyed being at home during the closure of schools, doing nothing, they were in fact ready to resume their studies. She said the teachers had worked hard acquainting themselves with the new school buildings for face to face classroom learning. She also noted that it was the first time that they began online teaching at the opening of a new school year – although they were previously engaged in the process during the term.
The two Opposition Members stated that a situation facing the schools was that not all students had access to such learning devices as computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones and the internet in their homes. Mrs. Richardson-Hodge and Mr. Connor suggested that the various community centres, across the island, had revealed that those students without the devices could be registered at the centres to use the required equipment and internet connections there.
Another matter on which the Opposition Members spoke was the cost of maintenance of the very large new school buildings – as was put forward by some critics. Mrs. Richardson-Hodge and Mr. Connor said it was important for the children to be in comfortable, spacious and well-equipped buildings to encourage classroom learning. They thought it was most unfortunate for persons to be critical of the sizes of the structures, saying it was a negative reaction. “The positive part is that we have them,” Mrs. Richardson-Hodge added.
The Opposition Members joined in commending the former Chief Minister/Premier and Minister of Finance, Mr. Victor Banks, for negotiating the humanitarian grant of 60 million pounds, with the UK Government, under the Anguilla Programme. They expressed thanks to the UK Government and the British taxpayers for the grant to finance various education, health and other facilities destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
