Minister of Education on Covid measures

[hydroep]

Those parents who does normally use schools to babysit their chirren under some pressure...

what dey does do during school vacation?

MovieTowne and South Park

As well as TV, phones and computers...then when they become uncontrollable because they parroting behaviours picked up online the parents does be looking everywhere else to place blame.

Teachers have it the best because they can be home.

Who cannot organize their vacations to coincide with that of their children does jumbee family to look after the pickney. Planned vactaion is one thing...this extended lockdown is quite another. Family or no family...dunno how many people will be willing to put up with that kind of imposition especially if they're dealing with challenges of their own...

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

TTUTA against July CSEC/CAPE exams; SEA projected to occur in October

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers' Association (TTUTA) is against the administration of the CSEC and CAPE examinations in July 2020.

Last week, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) said it is going ahead with the July exam.

TTUTA's General Council adopted a motion at a virtual meeting held on Friday, which called for exams to be administered no less than four weeks after the reopening of school, to allow for students to complete the SBAs/IAs and be in a state of readiness for the examinations.

On Sunday, TTUTA issued a statement to it members advising of the decisions taken at the General Council meeting.

It noted that due to the closure of schools for the last eight weeks, there has been difficulty with the completion of SBAs/IAs.

Meanwhile, TTUTA said it met with Minister of Education Anthony Garcia at a virtual media last Tuesday.

The Association said at the meeting the minister proposed that schools should be re-opened by September 1.

TTUTA said the minister indicated that the SEA exam was projected to occur some time in the month of October.

At the General Council meeting, members advocated for the proper sanitisation of schools before teachers and students entered school compound.

There was also a call for students preparing for the SEA exam to receive counselling and support as part of the preparatory activities before the examination.

TTUTA said it will seek a meeting with the Minister of Education to discuss the outcomes of the General Council meeting.

https://www.looptt.com/content/ttuta-ag ... ur-october

[pete]

TTUTA is being a little ridiculous.

Once no new cases appear in the next couple weeks and our borders remain closed it's fairly easy to say that we were able to stop any spread in Trinidad and Tobago.

They could open schools to just the CXC and CSEC students and space them out across the entire school to ensure social distancing and allow them to complete SBAs from June and let them prepare for exams in July.

Not having the exams in July will have other effects. e.g. What happens to Tertiary level admissions for September, will those institutions just have no income for that semester?

[X_Factor]

What about all the business that have no income for the past 2mths?

Ppl have the notion that it's normal school so just open it

They have to decide how social distancing and student interaction will be done and it's gonna be a nightmare when dealing with school populations of 2000 students not only where teaching is concerned but interaction during break and lunch time in already crowded schools

Can you imagine the implications if one teacher or student is positive and show mild symptoms?

[Dizzy28]

What about all the business that have no income for the past 2mths?

Ppl have the notion that it's normal school so just open it

They have to decide how social distancing and student interaction will be done and it's gonna be a nightmare when dealing with school populations of 2000 students not only where teaching is concerned but interaction during break and lunch time in already crowded schools

Can you imagine the implications if one teacher or student is positive and show mild symptoms?

Which school(s) has 2,000 students?

[maj. tom]

Social distancing cannot work in school, no matter how much theory is applied.
Either they write off the entire school year or they make a later start to the next academic year, like January.

This year will have a lot of "failures" after examination time because most of the children were not in school mode during this quarantine. This means that they have to change the exam and schooling system completely from what it is now.

This "summer" vacation business could be changed, since we don't have summer and they're not the hottest months of the year for Trinidad and Tobago. That's the main reason why schools shut down for the summer months. They can add 4 terms now and spread out the vacations more to allow more time for school based assessments rather than a set sitting exam.

yeah right, what i thinking... this could never happen in Trinidad with TTUTA.

[hydroep]

Big discussion about this in the UK at the moment. They're pushing for the reopening of Primary levels because "the current science says" young children are at much lower risk of being severely affected by the disease.

Teachers are the ones who seem to be kicking up the most fuss because of the lack of PPE and clear guidelines/procedures from the Government. There's a serious loss of confidence in the ability of the authorities to manage the situation over there...

[Redman]

Social distancing cannot work in school, no matter how much theory is applied.
Either they write off the entire school year or they make a later start to the next academic year, like January.

This year will have a lot of "failures" after examination time because most of the children were not in school mode during this quarantine. This means that they have to change the exam and schooling system completely from what it is now.

This "summer" vacation business could be changed, since we don't have summer and they're not the hottest months of the year for Trinidad and Tobago. That's the main reason why schools shut down for the summer months. They can add 4 terms now and spread out the vacations more to allow more time for school based assessments rather than a set sitting exam.

yeah right, what i thinking... this could never happen in Trinidad with TTUTA.

With a little effort they can stream class room teaching.

So alternate days where half the class comes in and half stays home and streams the lessons.

So A child comes in Mon Wed Fri ,Tues Thurs, Mon Wed Fri.

Work though July Aug vacation to make up time

Classrooms can be social distanced.
Contact time and delivery can be done

Kids can elect to take full online courses as they are now.

[Dizzy28]

Social distancing cannot work in school, no matter how much theory is applied.
Either they write off the entire school year or they make a later start to the next academic year, like January.

This year will have a lot of "failures" after examination time because most of the children were not in school mode during this quarantine. This means that they have to change the exam and schooling system completely from what it is now.

This "summer" vacation business could be changed, since we don't have summer and they're not the hottest months of the year for Trinidad and Tobago. That's the main reason why schools shut down for the summer months. They can add 4 terms now and spread out the vacations more to allow more time for school based assessments rather than a set sitting exam.

yeah right, what i thinking... this could never happen in Trinidad with TTUTA.

With a little effort they can stream class room teaching.

So alternate days where half the class comes in and half stays home and streams the lessons.

So A child comes in Mon Wed Fri ,Tues Thurs, Mon Wed Fri.

Work though July Aug vacation to make up time

Classrooms can be social distanced.
Contact time and delivery can be done

Kids can elect to take full online courses as they are now.

TTUTA probably even more powerful than OWTU
Their agreement will be needed on anything that touches a teacher's holiday time and I can't see them agreeing to have their membership come out in July and August.

[VexXx Dogg]

Social distancing cannot work in school, no matter how much theory is applied.
Either they write off the entire school year or they make a later start to the next academic year, like January.

This year will have a lot of "failures" after examination time because most of the children were not in school mode during this quarantine. This means that they have to change the exam and schooling system completely from what it is now.

This "summer" vacation business could be changed, since we don't have summer and they're not the hottest months of the year for Trinidad and Tobago. That's the main reason why schools shut down for the summer months. They can add 4 terms now and spread out the vacations more to allow more time for school based assessments rather than a set sitting exam.

yeah right, what i thinking... this could never happen in Trinidad with TTUTA.

With a little effort they can stream class room teaching.

So alternate days where half the class comes in and half stays home and streams the lessons.

So A child comes in Mon Wed Fri ,Tues Thurs, Mon Wed Fri.

Work though July Aug vacation to make up time

Classrooms can be social distanced.
Contact time and delivery can be done

Kids can elect to take full online courses as they are now.

You underestimate the poverty levels in this country.
This can work if we assume the playing field is relatively level.
Unfortunately, there is a huge disconnect between the haves and the have-nots.

[Redman]

Well the reality is that we cant accommodate the student population and adhere to the spacing requirements for Covid 19.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Ministries working on school reopening policies

THE Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education have begun working on a policy framework for education and reopening schools later this year.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said on Wednesday that the education system poses unique challenges not solved by general guidelines issued for workplaces.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram said World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for reopening schools have been shared and discussed with education ministry officials.

He reiterated that it is difficult to enforce social distancing measures with children, and so frequent handwashing and sanitising frequently-touched surfaces such as doorknobs, desktops, chairs etc, will have to be implemented.

He said the most critical part of the guidelines was that children and teachers need to stay home when they are ill, as once an illness enters the school environment it spreads quickly, as had been seen with the common cold, influenza, and gastroenteritis, to name a few.

The WHO guidelines recommend implementing hygiene and daily practices at schools, including cleaning to limit exposure; screening and management of sick students, teachers and other school staff; and communication with parents and students, as well as physical distancing and tele-schooling where applicable.

Deyalsingh said the proper wearing of masks and hand sanitisation by all members of the public will help to limit and hopefully prevent the entry of the virus into the school community.

He said policies will have to be strictly enforced within the school sector by principals, deans, and parents, who he said would now face the responsibility of making sure their sick children did not go to school. He said PTAs would also have to get involved in the collective effort to protect schools.

The WHO guidelines on schools can be found at: https://www.who.int/publications-detail ... f-covid-19


https://newsday.co.tt/2020/05/28/minist ... olicies-2/

[Ben_spanna]

forms 5 and 6 may have exams starting in June .............because Universities abroad will still require results, its only UWI that will be lenient...

[adnj]

forms 5 and 6 may have exams starting in June .............because Universities abroad will still require results, its only UWI that will be lenient...

That is not necessarily true:

In March, UC schools temporarily suspended SAT/ACT requirements for fall 2021 applicants due to the coronavirus pandemic.

UC will continue to keep standardized testing optional through 2022. Applicants in 2023 and 2024 will still have the option to submit their test scores but it will only be considered for purposes such as course placement, certain scholarships and eligibility for the statewide admissions guarantee.

The University of California has 10 campuses around the state in Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. (University of California has more than 285,000 students).

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/22/us/uc-su ... index.html

[NR8]

CSEC and CAPE exams begin July 13.

[K74T]

Key Points From The Ministry Of Education’s Media Conference on COVID-19 and Examinations – Friday May 29th 2020

- Education Minister Anthony Garcia confirmed that CAPE/CSEC exams will begin on July 13th 2020. The exams will comprise a Paper 1 (Multiple Choice) and a School Based Assessment (SBA). In subject areas where no SBA is required (Spanish, French Portuguese, or Human & Social Biology) there will be a Paper 2. In subject areas like Visual Arts, students will be required to present a journal as a replacement for their SBA. For Physical Education and Sport, the assessment will be based on a written plan for the tournament instead of the actual tournament.

- CXC has admitted that a suggested exam timetable was sent out prematurely. A new, authentic timetable will be distributed next week.

- Cleaning supplies (disinfectants, hand soaps, sanitisers, toilet paper and tissues) will be distributed to Secondary Schools from the first week in June.

- The Ministry of Health has provided a list of requirements ahead of the staging of exams in July. Schools must be properly sanitised ahead of students entering the classrooms. The Ministry of Education is also working with the Ministry of Health to acquire thermal scanners for students/teachers to ensure they don't have a temperature before entering the schools to write their exams. A screening process will take place ahead of students sitting the exams. Extra hand sanitisers/extra sinks will also be distributed for schools in need. Officials are also ensuring bathrooms and sinks are in good working order.

- Minister Garcia said CXC has decided to extend the deadline date for the submission of School Based Assessments (SBAs) to June 30th. Even though teachers have been working online with their students, this new extension might require teachers and students to visit their schools in the next month to complete their assignments. They can do so from June 7th to 30th to have one-on-one meetings ahead of handing in the SBAs. Only five (5) students are to be on a school compound at a time.

- For exams, students will be situated six to 10 feet away from each other. The entire school compound will be used so there will be enough space for physical distancing. Protocols for staggered entries and exits for students will be put in place at the schools to ensure there are no gatherings before or after exams.

- More Moderators will be required ahead of all CXC exams. The Ministry of Education is on a drive to get more Moderators. Training for Invigilators will begin online to ensure that they are well-prepared.

- A meeting was held with TTUTA on the SEA Exams yesterday, but Minister Garcia said he will give an update later.

- Schools will officially open on September 1st 2020.

- In excess of 4,500 teachers have been accessing MOE Education Platform to work with their students.

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Spaced out classrooms when schools resume in Sept
peter.christopher@guardian.co.tt

More sinks and spaced out classes will be a part of the new normal for returning students to schools.

During a tour of Queen’s Royal College (QRC) yesterday, Minister of Education Anthony Garcia was shown a couple of classrooms with spaced-out desks, while principal David Simon also confirmed the school’s gymnasium had been transformed to accommodate CSEC/CAPE examination students.

“We are already in full gear preparing for exams. What we did, the room that you are presently in, is a room that will be used for examinations, you recognise that it has been socially spaced for this particular purpose,” said Simon in a brief press conference in the gymnasium following the tour.

“The classroom that we visited is also socially spaced as we get ready to organise for exams. And of course, we are already working on a plan based on the information that we get from the Ministry of Education and all the other agencies as to what will happen in September that we anxiously await,” he said.

During the tour, the QRC Principal also pointed out areas he had identified to house exam invigilators and described plans to install additional sinks around to school.

“The principal has informed me that he will be installing 20 additional sinks and those sinks will be spread all around the school so the moment the student leaves a classroom and goes to another classroom he will have to opportunity to wash their hands so that when enters the classroom, he enters the classroom germ free,” said Minister Garcia.

He added: “Every school has what we refer to as drinking troughs, and in spite of the fact that QRC has a number of drink troughs were students can have their water and they can wash their hands and so on, it was felt it was necessary at this school to have additional sinks so, therefore, QRC will be installing additional sinks.”

The Education Minister also clarified a statement concerning the number of persons allowed to come to school for School-Based Assessments.

He explained that while groups larger than five will be allowed on the school compound, only five persons would be allowed in a classroom at a time in keeping with public health regulations.

“We are asking not more than five persons to be in a classroom at the same time.

“So this can be done on a rotational basis, a teacher, for example, can meet with a class of 25 but not at the same time,” he said.

The Minister also toured the St Patrick Girls RC School, also known as Nelson Street Girls school as they prepared for students sitting the SEA exam but said there was still no confirmed date for the Secondary Entrance Assessment.

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/spaced-o ... 3099f6366a

[Redman]

We enjoying the stay home....he is doing better....I hope they make it optional

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Teachers reject $$ and SEA date

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has rejected the proposal by the Education Ministry to have the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) on August 20.

And, according to TTUTA president, Antonia Tekah-De Freitas, no negotiations were held regarding a daily stipend to principals and SEA teachers.

She said the trade union had suggested that the examination should be done in October

Any rush to have the SEA examination before October, she said, will result in many pupils being ill-prepared and at a disadvantage.

https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/t ... fdf9b.html

[De Dragon]

Teachers reject $$ and SEA date

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has rejected the proposal by the Education Ministry to have the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) on August 20.

And, according to TTUTA president, Antonia Tekah-De Freitas, no negotiations were held regarding a daily stipend to principals and SEA teachers.

She said the trade union had suggested that the examination should be done in October

Any rush to have the SEA examination before October, she said, will result in many pupils being ill-prepared and at a disadvantage.

https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/t ... fdf9b.html

I thought that TTUTA were part of the discussions, stuck to their position of an October date for the SEA, but bubbled down when money passed? You really cannot trust what you read in the news now

[daxt0r]

Y dey gone big boy macomeyman school like QRC to show what in place.
Why dey eh go down ah Senior Sec in Siparia or P/Town (or any school down South) where students was gettin send home rite thru for no water b4 all dis nonsense?

[rebound]

MOE was trying to demonize the Teachers to the public........looks similiar to what was done to Petrotrin employees before the shutdown....

Something seems to be in the pipeline for the teaching service.

Teachers reject $$ and SEA date

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has rejected the proposal by the Education Ministry to have the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) on August 20.

And, according to TTUTA president, Antonia Tekah-De Freitas, no negotiations were held regarding a daily stipend to principals and SEA teachers.

She said the trade union had suggested that the examination should be done in October

Any rush to have the SEA examination before October, she said, will result in many pupils being ill-prepared and at a disadvantage.

https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/t ... fdf9b.html

I thought that TTUTA were part of the discussions, stuck to their position of an October date for the SEA, but bubbled down when money passed? You really cannot trust what you read in the news now

[bluefete]

Std.5 teachers deserve the stipend for coming out July-August.

The question is: Are these same teachers going to be giving lessons on the side (Zoom, Teams. however) and charging money, for the same period July-August period?

[Duane 3NE 2NR]

Prime Minister: SEA in August despite objections

The Prime Minister has said the position of the Education Ministry and other stakeholders is that if the SEA examinations are held in October, as suggested by TTUTA, the first term of the school year would be lost to students entering high school.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, he said the government has listened to submissions from all stakeholders and the decision was made to hold the exams on August 20, so that placement could take place by October and students would only be disadvantaged for six weeks. He said other students would begin the school term as usual, and would not be affected by the date.

He said the proposed $20 million figure to be spent on stipends for teachers who would be teaching the SEA students would be prudently spent if it meant that the students would be able to go back to school.

Rowley said he was not aware that TTUTA had rejected both the proposed stipend and returning to work in July.

He said if that meant that teachers were unwilling to return to work during their vacation period, even if it meant students would be helped, he would be very disappointed.

https://newsday.co.tt/2020/06/12/pm-sea ... objections

[De Dragon]

So if the teachers hold fast to their position, will Garcia and MoE push for SEA in August regardless? Will ego triumph over properly prepared students?

[Redman]

Std.5 teachers deserve the stipend for coming out July-August.

The question is: Are these same teachers going to be giving lessons on the side (Zoom, Teams. however) and charging money, for the same period July-August period?

Don’t they get paid already

[eliteauto]

NAPSPA press release

[Numb3r4]

Y dey gone big boy macomeyman school like QRC to show what in place.
Why dey eh go down ah Senior Sec in Siparia or P/Town (or any school down South) where students was gettin send home rite thru for no water b4 all dis nonsense?

Senior Sec in Siparia??? excuse me???

It is now called Siparia West Secondary sir.

Or as one person put it The Wild Wild West.

[Ben_spanna]

Teachers reject $$ and SEA date

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has rejected the proposal by the Education Ministry to have the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) on August 20.

And, according to TTUTA president, Antonia Tekah-De Freitas, no negotiations were held regarding a daily stipend to principals and SEA teachers.

She said the trade union had suggested that the examination should be done in October

Any rush to have the SEA examination before October, she said, will result in many pupils being ill-prepared and at a disadvantage.

https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/t ... fdf9b.html

I thought that TTUTA were part of the discussions, stuck to their position of an October date for the SEA, but bubbled down when money passed? You really cannot trust what you read in the news now

Anyone with a Child in SEA would know that statement is a crok of crap- all the kids were already preparing for Their April date and if not for lockdown they were more than 99%prepared..... yes it may vary from school to school but they were merely a few 2 weeks away from their SEA exam.
Its such a disgrace how the union is trying to use students as the reasoning behind their objection to the set date.. just be honest.. your vacation seems to be more important than the general welfare of the children.

[Ben_spanna]

So if the teachers hold fast to their position, will Garcia and MoE push for SEA in August regardless? Will ego triumph over properly prepared students?

Students are prepared, teachers are not willing to compromise their vacation times..... please know thats the real issue here.. Students were 2 weeks away from their date in April, they would have had to have been ready........ this whole postponement is now emotionally playing with the children who have this uncertainty hanging over them the past few months.....
Teachers in the union are just being selfish now!