School reopens in Saint Lucia amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Students across Saint Lucia returned to the classroom today, September 7, following the March 16 closure of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School was partially reopened on April 20 for the third academic term — with students remaining at home and receiving instruction online. Those from Grade 6 and Form 5 returned to the classroom on June 3 for about three weeks in preparation for the Common Entrance and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations. Most students have now returned to the physical school plant for the start of the new academic year.

Ministry of Health officials have reported that to date the country has recorded 26 cases of COVID-19 with 100% recovery. At a recent press briefing, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sharon Belmar-George stated that the country will be managing the virus for the next two years. “What are our options?” she asked. “Do we keep schools closed for that period of time? Looking at where we are in relation to the disease, looking at what we’ve put in place to be able to manage, we are at a point where we can safely ask the children to come in.”

Schools will operate much differently with two options being utilized:

1. Whole School Approach (used by 35 primary schools and 6 secondary schools)

This will be used by primary and secondary schools with a small student population. Students will attend school for four days per week (Monday to Thursday), with Friday serving as a planning day for teachers, and a General Sanitization Day for the school plant.

2. Alternate Instructional Days (used by 44 primary schools and 16 secondary schools)

In this option, students will attend school on alternate days. For example, a child will attend school on Monday, stay at home on Tuesday and return to school on Wednesday. The days at home will be dedicated to “distributed learning activities” — this includes doing work received from teachers virtually, activity sheets, project-based work etc.

Wishing students and teachers a safe and successful academic year, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet says that the education system can safely get back on track. “I understand that many parents and citizens are anxious given the reopening of schools amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a parent and a leader, I too share in this anxiety due to the unpredictability of the virus. However, given the stringent protocols which have been implemented by the Ministry of Health & Wellness in collaboration with Education officials, and the cooperation of students, teachers, parents and the general public —though it will not be easy — by working together we can safely get our education system back on track,” he said.

Opposition leader Philip J. Pierre in a statement today encouraged Saint Lucians to be a pillar of support for students as they face the new normal. “Most of our nation’s children commence a new school term today under very abnormal and in many instances uncomfortable circumstances. There is still an unwavering amount of uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic that they are still grappling to understand. We as parents, guardians, teachers, and the wider society must be a pillar of support to encourage them as they face the new normal,” said Pierre.

A few schools are scheduled to reopen on later dates:

September 9: Mon Repos/Patience Combined, Dennery Primary and La Ressource Combined

September 14: Entrepot Secondary, Monchy Combined and Les Etangs Combined