The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education, Technical & Vocational Training in a statement announced, January 5, the appointment of a Task Force to focus singularly on the identification of and implementation of education recovery for public schools, learning acceleration and social support.
The initiative would provide urgent assistance to students who would have seriously fallen behind in their educational development as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs. Hanna-Martin also responded to comments by Jeffrey Lloyd, former Minister of Education made at a press conference the same day.
She said, “The former Minister must remember that, as he advocates for children to resume face-to-face learning when the Ministry of Health and Wellness advises otherwise — during his term in office he made the decision to keep public school children in a fully virtual mode when there was no such public health prohibition; and at that time all other schools in the country went into a hybrid model, which he is now advocating for.”
Minister Hanna-Martin also opined that the inaction of school repairs nationwide was at a level of “political delinquency that is perhaps unprecedented.”
She continued, “The former Minister knows full well he left behind a crisis and a debacle and, he should instead be heard to say that he will join hands with all stakeholders to ensure that children are given the best opportunity possible to develop their potential.”
She encouraged all Bahamians to join with the Ministry as it works in the best interest of students.
“In time, I will speak further to this. We await further guidance from the Ministry of Health and Wellness as this Ministry stands ready to deliver in-person instruction to our children as circumstances permit.”
On November 8, 2021, Minister Hanna-Martin announced that with the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, public schools throughout the Commonwealth would reopen during the second week of January 2022 for hybrid instruction which would gradually lead to in-classroom lessons. At the time the Ministry also presented an overview of the state of the physical plant, and plans underway for school repairs to facilitate reopening of schools.
In a press release on December 29, 2021, the Ministry advised that in light of what is being described as the country’s fourth wave of COVID-19, and acting on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry has decided that all public and private schools (including preschools and daycare facilities) may open in January 2022 only on a fully virtual basis. Further, the Ministry advised that the decision would be revisited within the ensuing 14 days, when a further assessment would be conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
