Nearby in Dominica, students and educators are getting ready for another term of virtual classes this week. The announcement- which was made by Chief Education officer Dr. Jeffrey Blaizeon December 30- stated that the new term would begin today Monday 3, January, and classes would officially begin on Wednesday 5.
“We continue to strategize for eventual face-to-face engagement on a phased basis. As soon as a decision is finalised in this regard, schools will be informed. We wish you the best for a successful year,” Blaize expressed in the notice.
Last year, the country experienced a high surge of Covid cases which led the Ministry of Education to make the decision to revert to online learning and while cases have decreased, the decision to continue online school this year is due to the low number of vaccinated students on the island.
Back in November, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit urged parents in Dominica to allow their child/children to get vaccinated in the fight against Covid-19 so the country could safely return to face-to-face learning.
“There are still too many children in the country who are not vaccinated. And if we want to get back to face-to-face in the classroom then we will have to get our children vaccinated,” he said. “You the parents do not want to take it, but why can’t you allow your child to take it?”
He continued, “When I look at the percentage of the schools, the population and those who have gotten vaccinated it is way too large in terms of the number of persons who have not taken the vaccine, so I am urging parents let us do what is just and what is right for our children.”
Dominica has received donations of Pfizer vaccines- which can be administered to children aged 12-17- from the United States (US) Government.
Meanwhile, as of December 30, 2021, the total number of fully vaccinated people was 28,429, while there were 30,699 partially vaccinated persons.
