Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Chandler Hyacinth has defended the decision by the Ministry to go ahead with the reopening of school. She said that face to face learning is of utmost importance to all students especially those from low income families and those who have a disability.
She said, “Research has shown that there is some harm attributed to closed schools. It has tremendous effects on students. It has effects on their social emotional behavior, it has effects on their health, it has effects on their economic well being and moreover it has and can have lasting effects on academic achievement…The lack of face to face/ in person educational outcomes disproportionately harms children especially children of low income and those with disability.
She continued, “Many do not have facilities for online learning, they do not have the capacity to facilitate online learning. These are the children who cannot access private instruction and care. These are the ones that have to rely on school and school resources”.
Schools in Dominica are set to re open on September 7. The ministry has already sent out its guidelines for the reopening of schools.
