Some new measures to be implemented by the Ministry of Education for the reopening of Dominica’s schools, has come in for some criticism.
Last week, Education Minister, Octavia Alfred announced the government’s decision to postpone the reopening of schools on the island due to the current upsurge of Covid-19 and stated that all students are expected to wear uniform while attending class even if they are at home and others with no internet access, will be accommodated at the primary schools in their villages taking into consideration the necessary protocols.
But St. Mary’s Academy (SMA) teacher, Ian Jackson believes that decision should be revisited.
“I think it is very comical and it is very amusing to me that a minister would think that when parents are at work children would bathe, dress and present themselves in front of a computer to do classes for any period of time,” Jackson argued. “I mean sometimes you get problems with the students coming in proper uniform, with their ties or their crests and so on, even at school at the facility itself.”
He contends that it is not practical to control students who are not within the touch of their parents or teachers and suggests that instead, they should in be decently dressed when presenting themselves in front of their computer or other digital devices.
“You cannot come in your T-Shirt; you cannot come with a vest which is disrespectful to the teachers teaching you and the teachers should also be appropriately clad, presenting themselves in an official way in presenting their work via Google classroom or whatever medium used,” he remarked.
Jackson said he understands the thinking that being in uniform makes one feel like they are part of an environment, “but these are different times.”
“These are new times and as a result we trust that will not be happening forever, but at least for the better part of first term I can see that happening in terms of Google Classroom or maybe even the whole of first term, but again it’s something temporary,” he noted.
In terms of digital online interaction, Jackson, a teacher of English is convinced that it would be best if all students and teachers remain at home as there are many learning institutions in Dominica, such as the SMA where internet access is not powerful enough to enable all teachers to attend school and to teach from the staff rooms or from various classes.
He said not all the schools in Dominica are equipped to facilitate teachers coming at one time to deliver to hundreds of students.
“The best bet is for teachers to be at their homes to actually be doing their work,” he reiterated. “It can be monitored.”
Jackson suggests that the MOE decision suggests to him, as a teacher, that the Ministry does not trust its teachers because being at work, according to him, does not necessarily mean, “being physically at work.”
“We are living in a virtual space right now and maybe in the next 10 years down the line teaching will only be done from people’s homes, while myself like the face-to-face at and I am sure a lot of teachers like the face-to-face, but at the same time if is that the Covid environment allows us to do now, then we should entrust our teachers,” the SMA teacher insisted.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Roosevelt has responded to such public reaction to his the government’s decision regarding the reopening of school and the associated measures, pointing out that it would be “largely irresponsible” to reopen school until the Covid-19 surge is under control.
“On the reopening of schools, I know that there are some people who have had issues with some of the aspects of it,” he said. “Clearly, with the current surge of Covid-19, it would be impossible to have students go to school face-to-face.”
He continued, “There was the issue of getting students to do classes in their uniforms and there was a reaction. Sometimes you don’t know how to please people, because when we had online learning last year, there were teachers who complained on how their students were dressed and to bring a sense of discipline and to bring a sense of, I am in class.”
According to Skerrit, he doesn’t expect students to be fully attired in their uniform, as “all you see is the school shirt” and added that it is not every parent who has money to buy a different outfit for a child every single day of the week.
“But when you have your uniform, you have two shirts; nobody knows you have two shirts,” he noted. “You use one for Monday and Tuesday; Tuesday, you wash it and use the other one Wednesday and Thursday and the one you washed on Tuesday, you use it on Friday.”
He said the government is trying its best to see how they can work with different circumstances so that people can be fitted in and not feel left out.
“So you will never be able to address everybody’s issue in the manner they would like you to do it because you are not only dealing with one person, you are dealing with a whole nation,” he observed.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that 5th formers are expected to commence online classes on September 13th.
“We felt that based on advice, because the fifth formers have all their books, they can go ahead and commence classes,” the prime minister stated. “They will start on the 13th of September fully online and then in the month of October students in other classes and other forms will begin on the 4th of October.”
Prime Minister Skerrit explained that one of the reasons why the 4th of October was chosen is because, “clearly parents would have lost about two to three weeks during the curfew because bookstores were not allowed to open and to avoid any rush unnecessarily, get parents to organize themselves properly and use the month of September to get things in place.”
Send them to school without a mask or vaccination optional. for teachers it should be mandatory that they report to work in order to receive a paycheck.
If a parent want to keep them home keep them home for virtual learning, then so be it. Protect the rights and freedom we fought for. The parents are responsible for themselves and their family, so controlling and disciplining should be their responsibility. Students should not have to dress up in a uniform if they dont want to, or, if you can’t afford it then utilize what is available.
These teachers have better things to do then take on the respocibility of the parents as well and you cant please everybody.
Probably I missed it. Are the lower grades !like kindergarten, grades 1 & 2 would be doing online classes also?.
These children need constant supervision to stay focused. These children’s attention span is super short. Even older students don’t have the discipline to stay focused without adult supervision.
My gravest concern about online learning for these students is this. Do most schools have the requisite technological infrastructure for this? That’s doubtful. In fact, No Way! So many students would be left behind especially the students who need individual attention as they are not academically inclined.
No surprise. Always the most ineffective with the most to say.
I pray they will not only monitor teachers online but will come to schools during face to face sessions and supervise the Facebook gangsters principal and teacher who are always on fb all day. Now they have a reason to be online I hope they will do their work.
Most teachers work hard. However, there are always some bad eggs. These are just a tiny minority. It’s unfair to lump all teachers in the same pile. Many teachers go the extra mile even resorting to buy teaching materials from their own pockets. Don’t overlook this.
If you are referring to the above comment I read teacher and principal. Singular meaning one. Maybe I am wrong.
My son has online classes as well and every morning he wakes up, take a shower and put on a good shirt on not like you going out but something descent. He even sometimes put on his school sport shirt (polo), but not his actual uniform with his tie on, that would look so jokey.
I myself don’t believe in a child waking up in the morning, bathe and put his or her school uniform on to attend online classes. This makes no sense at all, some little children who like to go to school and play for e.g kindergarten up to grade 3 and 4 will believe that they are going to leave the house for school, upon realizing that they will be staying home. Some might even cry. Now, I believe that a child should properly dress for instance a polo shirt or something presentable because other people seeing you and not a vest on or a shirt that has holes.
One of the biggest problems with this present governing regime, it frowns on inclusion and does things without consultation. This is a recipe for disaster. No one person or group has a monopoly on knowledge and ideas.
Were the views of important stakeholders like the parents and teachers solicited?
Skerrit and his malleable adherents hardly get anything right due to their ‘I run things’ selfish and misguided attitude.
Regardless of uniform, if online learning is to be a repeat of classroom learning we miss a golden opportunity. I can think of hundred of online videos that could be used to inspire students.
To promote my mission of introducing all facets of the creative arts in schools, this short video may give students an entirely different take on music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceX5jJ5fggs
And in terms of motivation, this graduation speech may be the wake up call that is needed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6C9ogRunU0
Roosevelt Skerrit, the Donald Trump of Dominica.
Skerrit doesnt have a choice but to defend the majee his government is doing. Listen to the people doing the teaching, the parents the children. Not Pampalam who is not the brightest spark. I personally know of a teacher who had to be hospitalized because the whole online teaching thing caused her blood pressure to go way up. Some will say it should be easier as she is at home. But imagine trying to teach children between 5 and 9 and having to keep their attention, decrease distractions, and still ensure
personal attention in many instances through the computer. These people do not care. they act like whatever they say is right and everybody have to conform and that is that. No retrospect, no deep thinking about long term effects. Nothing. just temporary fix like duct tape.
You are quite right: trying to teach online by methods used in the classroom is a sure recipe for a nervous breakdown for a teacher and no gain for the student. But by creatively using the resources of the internet, rather than blackboard and text books, students could be riveted to their screens.
In a separate comment I give links to two examples.
I see the point that Mr. Jackson is making, especially for students who need particular supervision and especially for Forms 1 -3. It may be a challenge INITIALLY to implement.
However, I agree with the PM and the Ministry of Education if students use the top of the uniform (shirt) for all the reasons given. Also, psychologically, students must get a sense that they are at school when in the Uniform shirts. While it is not the uniform that makes you a good student, the psychological feel of getting up and going to school (if only in front of your device) is essential. I can tell you, I am always business attired even when teleworking – for the same reasons of differentiating my work time and home time.
Clearly, it is going to be challenging for the policy makers to come up with the balanced decisions that satisfy MOST. It will be challenging for the teachers, parents,that and students too.
It is at this point WE MUST RESOLVE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR COLLECTIVE BENEFIT.
But Mr. Pm what kind of response is that nuh? By the way its a new school year and its about time the ministry deals with the Facebook gangsters teachers and principals. Let them know that their job is in the classroom and not to be throwing Mepuis on fb during school hours. Now they are teaching online I hope they will do what they have to do karmem.
Mr. Pm I respect you and your government decision but y’all didn’t consider the single mothers that is at work whole day and hardly have internet at home???? How much children is going to be attending classes??? Do I send my daughter at people home???? To get infected??? How is my 4 year old going to concentrate??
Sitting here all alone on the beach reading this complete nonsense with my mask on because that’s another one of this government’s ridiculous rules.