The Ministry and Department of Education would like to inform all principals, staff, parents and students of the following updates and arrangements with respects to the 2020 – 2021 Academic Year.
Term One of the Academic Year runs from Monday, 7th September to Friday 11th December 2020.
COLLABORATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Currently, Anguilla has a “STAGE 0 Coronavirus Alert Level”, meaning no active cases on island. Every attempt to maintain this status and protect the health and safety of our children, teachers, support staff and community during this season is of paramount importance. By extension all person are reminded to continue practicing good hygiene and social etiquette as the level of on-island travel and activity increases with the opening of schools.
OPENING OF SCHOOLS
Primary and Secondary Schools resume “face to face instruction” following the schedules which were implemented after the passage of Hurricane Irma.
o Primary Schools: 8:30am- 3:00pm
o ALHCS (Forms 1-3): 7:00am – 11:30am
o ALHCS (Forms 4-6): 12:15pm – 5:10pm
A blended learning approach will be used – fully incorporating eLearning platforms and other active modes of instruction.
Primary schools will use one of two e-learning platforms – Schoology or Google Classroom.
The Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS), will use either Edmodo and Google Classroom.
Technical support and guidance on the use of these platforms will be provided by the Department of Education for teachers, parents, and students. Direct support will also be made available on campus for ALHCS students.
STUDENTS WITHOUT DEVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS
A limited number of laptops has been secured for shared students needs. These laptops will be distributed on a “loaner” basis to students via the Department of Education. No monetary contribution is expected from parents, unless the laptops are damaged or lost.
The Ministry of Education is spearheading a “Donation Drive” to encourage members of the public to donate new or used laptops and tablets to public schools as an increase in student access to these devices is desired.
Additionally, Government has approved the removal of customs duty on the importation of laptops for all primary and secondary school students.
Persons who are able to purchase laptops for individual children or in support of this initiative must send proof of purchase via the school principal, for endorsement by the Chief Education Officer.
The Ministry and Department of Education has successfully partnered with on island internet providers to secure metered internet access for students in need. Parents and guardians in need of this support should contact the Department of Education for further details on the available packages.
ATTENDANCE OF TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND STUDENTS
Teachers, support staff and students attendance will be monitored on a daily basis and reported to the Department of Education on a weekly basis.
The Department of Education will alert health officials about any large increases in student and staff absenteeism, particularly if absences appear due to respiratory illnesses (like the common cold or the “flu,” which have symptoms similar to symptoms of COVID-19).
Teachers and support staff are reminded to remain at home if they are demonstrating any signs of respiratory illness.
Parents are reminded that children who are sick, coughing or demonstrating any signs of respiratory illness MUST remain at home.
If such symptoms develop while a student is at school, the student will be isolated and the parent contacted. The Ministry of Health will also be contacted to advise on the appropriate protocol to be implemented.
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Each school will be thoroughly sanitized prior to the return of students.
School health nurses will be deployed to continue our efforts to sensitize students and staff on the need to follow proper hand-washing techniques and other hygienic practices at all times especially when using bathroom facilities, prior to and after recess breaks.
Billboards and communications regarding the virus and the preventative measures to be taken are being placed in high visibility areas at schools.
Hand sanitizer will be available for use in each classroom.
Bathrooms will be cleaned and monitored throughout the day to ensure that they remain in a hygienic state, supplies are replenished and that students are washing their hands properly.
Custodians will be specifically designated to perform this task.
Students will be encouraged and reminded to:
1. Wash their hands frequently.
2. Cover coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or in the crook of a flexed elbow.
3. Avoid contact with persons who are ill with symptoms of acute respiratory infections such as fever or cough.
Desks and frequently touched surfaces will be sanitized at intervals during the day.
The interior of school buses will also be cleaned and sanitized daily.
FACE COVERINGS AND MASKS
Health officials have advised that under our current Alert Level, masks are not required.
The evidence around COVID-19 and face coverings in educational settings was considered in relation to the potential benefits of reducing the spread of the virus and any potential harms or risks. The purpose of wearing a face covering is to prevent the spread of infection between people. With the public health measures we have been exercising nationally and in the schools coupled with the low risk of transmission at Alert Level- Stage 0, we consider the risk of infection to be low.
Overall, we think it is important not to interfere with learning as much as possible, so it’s about balancing the benefits against the potential harms. Children and young people do not need to wear face coverings because the risk of infection within the school environment is low.
Other public health control measures will be in place including children and staff staying home if they are sick, contact tracing, and hygiene requirements. If new evidence emerges, this guidance will be revised.
Nevertheless, any child, teacher, support staff or visitor to the school who wish to wear face masks at schools may do so.
Further guidance will be issued shortly to inform parents and stakeholders about what to do if the national Alert Level changes.
MEAL PROGRAMME
The Department’s Meal Programme will resume on 7th September 2020.
Parents of children in need of assistance via this Programme, are advised to contact the school their child attends or the Department of Education.
Those in need of additional assistance can also contact the Department of Social Development to find out more about meal plans.
ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WITH TEXTBOOKS, UNIFORMS AND RESOURCES
The following measures were previously announced to assist families navigating these challenging economic times:
1. The Department of Education working in concert with schools, will make exceptions, on a case-by-case basis, to relax provisions of school-based policies that have financial implications for families. For example: school based fees, requirements to wear a different type of shoe for Physical Education or a specific type or colour of shoe and the printing of the school logo etc.
Parents are encouraged to do their best to ensure the shoes procured for students are consistent with the requirements of the respective schools. There will be no exceptions made on the shirt/blouse, pants/skirt required across schools. Uniforms in and of themselves are cost saving measures. We expect our students to respect the uniforms of the various schools and daily grooming requirements.
2.The Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) will allow students to use the version/edition before the current edition of textbooks (where available). This is only applicable for textbooks whose version was updated on the ALHCS 2020 Book Lists. For example – if the 6th Edition is on the book list, the 5th Edition will also be accepted. Earlier versions will pose a significant challenge for both students and teachers. Where applicable, parents are encouraged to focus on purchasing books needed for Term 1 ONLY.
3.The Ministry and Department are working with PTAs across the island to solicit donations of textbooks from families that might still have them in their possession. These books will be made available to other families at no cost or at a reduced cost. Parents desirous of making donations or reselling textbooks should contact the school’s PTA or Principal at their soonest.
4.ANGLEC, working with the Ministry of Education, recently launched the SET for SUCCESS Scholarship Programme targeting students in Forms 1 – 5 at the ALHCS. The Programme creates a fund to which other community partners can contribute. The fund will provide 25 scholarships with a value of US$500.00 during the pilot year. Applications are now being accepted. Forms are available at the ANGLEC Satellite Office, located in The Quarter.
COMMUNICATION WITH TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, PARENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
The Ministry and Department of Education will co-ordinate all official communication to all stakeholders.
Internal email distribution lists will be used to communicate directly with school principals, teachers and support staff.
The media (print, tv and radio) and social media sites, will be used for official press releases and public announcements.
The Ministry of Social Development and Education and the Department of Education Facebook pages will also be used for distributing official communication. Continue to monitor the Ministry of Health and HM Governor’s Office in Anguilla’s Facebook pages for official updates on the status of coronavirus on island.
CONCLUSION
The Ministry and Department of Education assure all stakeholders that every effort has been and will be made to ensure the safety of staff and students.
We again express our gratitude to those private sector partners who reached out to the Ministry and Department of Education to provide additional learning and financial resources to support our work. We are forever grateful for your commitment to education and your demonstration of meaningful partnership.
We look forward to the support of everyone as we resume the teaching and learning process.
Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers
Honourable Minister of Social Development and Education Government of Anguilla
