The Government of Dominica has taken a decision to have a phased opening of face-to-face school in Dominica very soon.
School in Dominica has been closed now for about six months after the island registered a spike in the COVID-19 cases with students doing online classes in most instances.
Prime Minister Roosevelt disclosed that with “adequate classroom space for the face-to-face distancing” classes will be conducted from “9 am to 1 pm for three days a week, Mondays to Wednesdays and online sessions two days a week from on Thursdays and Fridays.”
He explained that “primary schools considered medium size with adequate space for the stipulated social distancing protocols with students from K to 3 will attend a face to face sessions three days per week Mondays to Wednesdays.”
“Students from grades 4-6 will attend a face to face sessions two days per week from Thursdays to Fridays and primary schools considered large grades 3, 5, and 6 will attend face to face sessions two days a week Mondays and Tuesdays, while students from grades K to 2 will attend sessions two days a week on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” Skerrit stated.
He stated that students from grades 4 will attend face to face on Fridays only.
The Dominican Prime Minister also revealed that following discussions with the St. Martin Primary School, which has a population of over three hundred, special arrangements have been made to assist them in that regard.
As it relates to secondary schools, Skerrit disclosed that students from each form will attend “face-to-face classes on one day per week from 8 am to 1 pm.”
“Forms 5 Mondays, form 4 Tuesdays, form 3 Wednesdays, form 2 Thursdays, and form 1 Fridays. Schools are asked to strategize accordingly so as to accommodate students to ensure proper social distancing protocol is observed,” he said.
Students of the Dominica Grammar School (DGS) and the Goodwill Secondary School (GSS) are sharing the DGS building hence the GSS will operate a morning shift along with the DGS since the space allows for such.
Skerrit stated that the Ministry of Education has prepared a detailed operations manual for the “blended education programme as well as the safe operations of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
I would like some additional information re the high court decision to have only ‘in situ’ hearings