All public sector schools as well as a number of private schools reopened in Anguilla on June 1, 2021, with no known active cases of the COVID-19 virus on the island.
The schools were closed when the COVID-19 cluster was first identified in various parts of the Anguillian community on April 21, 2021.
Following the reopening of the schools, Minister of Education and Social Development, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish Rogers, issued a statement in which she said: “The Ministry and Department of Education will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure we are kept abreast of all recent developments regarding the coronavirus. All efforts will be taken to ensure that we maintain a healthy and safe environment for our teachers, support staff, students and stakeholders.”
The Minister further stated: “The Health Team has been working hard to keep us safe. This is evident by our return to Stage 0. The Team has assured the Ministry and the Department of Education that the protocols…are in line with the most up-to-date advice on keeping our children safe.
“While this period of lockdown has undoubtedly impacted learning, it is our hope that reopening schools will assist in reconnecting our students, easing social isolation and closing learning gaps. It is for these reasons, and others, that we have decided to cancel Test of Standards Examinations this year to ensure that we continue to be sensitive to the need for academic fairness and the overall wellbeing of our children.”
Minister Kentish-Rogers added: “We want to thank all education stakeholders for their patience, and look forward to further collaboration during this final term.”
Meanwhile, on the day of the reopening of schools, Mrs. Susan Smith, Educati
on Officer, Primary/ Pre-Primary, told The Anguillian newspaper: “I am going around to the schools just to make sure that everything is running smoothly. The schools were required to identify at least two entry points, and the teachers and custodians were to take the temperature of everyone who enters – including parents. We have provided shields for our teachers to make them a little more comfortable with their teaching, instead of wearing masks all day, so that at least they can take a break from them. The shields will still serve the purpose of protecting them.”
