UWI principal: Physical classes not likely before vaccine

FOR university students, UWI St Augustine campus principal Prof Brian Copeland said until a vaccine is delivered, it may not be plausible to have students physically attend classes en masse.

He said allowances were made in the public health regulations for the university for students to attend campus for labs and practicals. He said each department would have to present him with the precautionary measures they intend to take to limit the risk of spreading the virus if students are brought back to campus.

At the St Augustine campus there are some 15,000 students, increasing the risk of spread of covid19, Copeland noted.

Because of this, the UWI will ramp up its online capabilities.

“We always wanted to get to that space of using the capabilities online to its maximum. It is not just about attending and conducting classes, you have to pace it a different way and while a good few of our lecturers are showing they can handle it, it is still not enough,” Copeland said.

National Primary School Principals' Association president Lance Mottley on Sunday appealed to parents to do everything they can to ensure that the proper public health measures are taken this Christmas, so that schools can reopen as planned next year.

He made the plea in response to the Prime Minister’s announcement that SEA and CSEC students will be allowed to physically attend school in preparation for exams in 2021 by January and early February.

“Covid19 spreads according to how we react to the health measures,” said Mottley in a telephone interview with Newsday on Sunday. "If we are careless, particularly coming out of Christmas, there may be further delays.”

“I appeal to parents to make sure and take precautions this Christmas so they could return (to school) faster. It is in the interest of the children.”

The new school term will begin virtually on January 4, while standard 5 students would be allowed to physically attend classes at the end of January to begin preparations for SEA exams in June.

Mottley supported the decision.

New Secondary Schools Principal Association president Sherra Carrington-James said while there have been discussions with stakeholders on the re-opening of schools, the situation remains fluid. She also said the number of positive cases of covid19 over the next coming weeks would affect the timeline of students being able to physically attend school. If schools are to be opened as planned, Carrington-James said it would take an effort from everyone involved.

“It is really about partnership,” Carrington-James said. “There must be participation and partnership from all stakeholders.”

Carrington-Jones said constant consultation has been ongoing with all stakeholders, the latest meeting being last week Thursday, on strategies to safely conduct classes for students. She said while other forms would have to attend virtually, forms four, five and six students would be able to attend school physically so they can focus on their School Based Assessments (SBAs) and labs.