So, while that's how regular Belizeans feel about the near-complete relaxation of the COVID protocols and the reopening of bars and nightclubs, the Ministry of Education is urging the Belizean public that a full return to classroom education must happen by the next school year.
The Ministry sent out an internal memorandum and press release noting that with the implementation of Statutory Instrument #61 of 2022, they are giving permission for all schools countrywide to return to face-to-face learning. And while mask-wearing has been relaxed, students, teachers, and school staff members should continue to practice indoor mask-wearing, hand washing, sanitizing, and monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms.
The Ministry officials say that they appreciate that schools may be at a different level of preparedness to resume face-to-face learning. But, all schools must begin to "chart their return to pre-pandemic daily schedules". If a school does not think that they can immediately transition back to a full week of in-class instruction, they may continue to operate under their staggered schedules. But, all schools will be expected to return to pre-pandemic schedules for the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year.
Earlier today, we spoke with the CEO of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology about the push to re-establish the pre-COVID routines for the nation's schoolchildren:
Dian Maheia - CEO, Ministry of Education
"From the beginning, we have maintained that we are guided by the recommendations and the advice of the public health officials. We've stuck to that through the entire pandemic. We have not made a move without getting their advice, and their assurance that they believe we're moving in the right direction. So, the return to face-to-face instruction has been gradual. It's been very measured in its response. Now, in accordance with the new essay that has been released, we acknowledge the fact that we are really happy, as is everyone else, I'm sure. COVID numbers are down so much that we can look at a relaxing of restrictions. We think that's a wonderful thing. We want to continue to be measured in our response to this though because when we are looking at our education community, we are looking at children and students of all ages. We are looking at our teachers and we are looking at all the people that they will come in contact with. So we've had a lot of questions concerning when can we return? When can we increase the contact time that we have with our students? When can we get closer to a pre-pandemic sort of schedule? So really, now is the time. So we're saying right now to the schools, if you can begin to do this, it's OK. You're allowed, but that's not a problem. But definitely, we want everyone to understand that come the new school year, you should be ready. Come the new school year, we don't want to have, you know, sort of one foot in the door and one foot out the door. We want to make sure it's time to get our students back into the classroom. That is absolutely critically important."
We also asked the CEO about the possible interpretation that a full reopening of schools is moving too slowly, especially since students have regressed in their educational development. Here's how she answered that:
Dian Maheia - CEO, Ministry of Education
"We're dealing with parents and we're dealing with people's children. You don't play games with their life, right? Adults are free to make their own decisions. Children are not. Parents make the decisions for children. So schools are complicated. And you know - I think every parent knows that at some point - it's one thing for you to make a decision for yourself, and it's another thing to make a decision for your child. Sometimes it's almost like, you want to keep your child in a bubble and make sure that your child is protected. And that's absolutely understandable. So I think that. Those people who maybe disagree with the way in which we have managed the reopening of schools., maybe it would be good if they could - if it's at all possible for them to think about what it's like to try to make the decisions that will impact the nation's children. In January, we got a lot of criticism for moving forward because we were saying, 'This is an urgent situation. We have to begin to get the children back.' And people criticize us for doing that, you know. We kept at it and we really saw such positive responses from the families who are so happy to bring their children back to school. We are in the process now of trying to source vaccines for ages five to eleven. And that is a decision that the Ministry of Education is very happy about. That's actually not something that we, as the ministry are directly involved in. Our part will come. We will have to play our part when the vaccines are actually here."
The CEO told us that Friday classes are expected to return fully in the new school year since teachers and public officers are getting their 10% pay restored in the near future.
