Minister Fayval Williams says private schools are not necessarily guided by the directives from the Ministry.

“Children must be educated, and it is our duty, through the leadership of our schools, to ensure all the safety measures are in place and are maintained without compromise,”

the Minister said.

She pointed out that schools are not approved for face-to-face instructions without them satisfying the COVID-19-compliant standards of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and evaluated as being low-risk, and noted, too, that risk-ranking database, guided by geoinformatics and demographic data are used to determine the process.

Mrs Williams said that schools are also monitored through announced and unannounced visits by Health Inspectors, Safety and Security Officers and Education Officers to guarantee full compliance and the ultimate safety of learners and staff in schools.

Minister Williams informed that of the 216 schools that have started face- to-face classes, eight schools across Regions 1, 2, 5 and 7 have been affected by suspected or confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus.

She said that the necessary sanitisation and psychosocial activities have been or are being undertaken at institutions with confirmed cases.
The Minister noted that there were no suspected or confirmed cases in Regions 3, 4 and 6.