Ministries working on school reopening policies

Anthony Garcia -
Anthony Garcia -

THE Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education have begun working on a policy framework for education and reopening schools later this year.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said on Wednesday that the education system poses unique challenges not solved by general guidelines issued for workplaces.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for reopening schools have been shared and discussed with education ministry officials.

He reiterated that it is difficult to enforce social distancing measures with children, and so frequent handwashing and sanitising frequently-touched surfaces such as doorknobs, desktops, chairs etc, will have to be implemented.

He said the most critical part of the guidelines was that children and teachers need to stay home when they are ill, as once an illness enters the school environment it spreads quickly, as had been seen with the common cold, influenza, and gastroenteritis, to name a few.

The WHO guidelines recommend implementing hygiene and daily practices at schools, including cleaning to limit exposure; screening and management of sick students, teachers and other school staff; and communication with parents and students, as well as physical distancing and tele-schooling where applicable.

Deyalsingh said the proper wearing of masks and hand sanitisation by all members of the public will help to limit and hopefully prevent the entry of the virus into the school community.

He said policies will have to be strictly enforced within the school sector by principals, deans, and parents, who he said would now face the responsibility of making sure their sick children did not go to school. He said PTAs would also have to get involved in the collective effort to protect schools.

The WHO guidelines on schools can be found at: https://www.who.int/publications-detail/considerations-for-school-related-public-health-measures-in-the-context-of-covid-19

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"Ministries working on school reopening policies"

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