The United Progressive Party (UPP) rolled out its third virtual forum as part of a weekly 5-part public education series. Held under the theme Tackling COVID 19: The Impact on the Education System on Tuesday October 5th 2021, the forum featured a panel of 3 veteran educators and 1 parent.
The discussion focused on the impact of COVID-19, and the uncertainty and long-term consequences on skills growth and learning at all educational levels. It specifically addressed the challenges that teachers and parents face in managing alternative learning solutions and coping mechanisms, throughout the pandemic.
The panel was moderated by Dr. Jacqui Quinn and featured:
Myrick Smith – Education Officer, Examinations, Ministry of Education
Ashworth Azille – Principal, Clare Hall Secondary School
Dr. Ronan Matthew – Educator and retired principal ( Antigua and Nevada, USA )
Eugena Greene – Parent of Student at Princess Margaret School.
Sean Bird, UPP candidate for St. John’s Rural East in providing closing remarks said “The disruption caused by school closures due to COVID only highlights some major social and economic challenges that many families face. These include lack of internet services and devices, food insecurity, access to childcare, poor housing and the effects of unemployment. We need to prioritize the development of national education policies that support blended learning systems with built-in preparedness to address future disruptive events on the scale of COVID-19.”
As students embark on another year, potentially of hybrid learning, Bird stated, “The government must make ongoing investments to upgrade connectivity and device access, while continually adjusting online learning content and technologies, based on student and teacher feedback and assessments.”
The UPP continues to demonstrate commitment to providing education about COVID-19 to help the public make more informed decisions about their protection against COVID-19, not just about their personal health, but the overall quality of life in their communities.
About the Tackling COVID-19 Virtual Forums
These interactive virtual forums are hosted on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM, broadcast on Progressive Radio 107.3 FM and live streamed via the MYUPP Facebook Page. Experts explore a range of topics, innovative strategies and best practices to address the impact of COVID-19 and the recovery process. The discussion ends with a guided Q & A session that fields questions from the audience to address public concerns and information gaps.
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Pure hogwash!!!
Experts always know what to do when they are not doing what they should have done when they themselves as experts were in the field.
Just remember 10 yrs from now, when these 7,8,9 yr Olds start entering the economy, and they can’t read or write, and this are the workforce of the future. You can look back at the teachers of this Era who will not get vaccined so they could actually teach an in person class. You can see the actual situation they are creating. We will be faced with an island full of non employable people. But does the union care, nope. Does the government care nope. Look at it people, we are screwed.
@ Billy Bob, I was partially home schooled, my mother taught me the three Rs. I have to take into consideration that she was an educated home maker unlike these modern times where both parents are employed and a majority are single parents; I see no reason for someone’s child to fall short academically once they have parents who are vested in their education.
The question I ponder is where have we failed as a society that only persons who are trained as teachers can educate our children?
The failed e-book was a good idea and only if Michael Brown had allowed the technicians to do their work. The first thing should have been a pilot project as Jamaica. Fast forward- today who is ensuring that our teachers are administering google class room effectively. I am hearing that some of them are just sending a ton of work to the children that will keep them occupied for day without any teaching or ever inquiring how are they doing. This home learning is a total failure. Now Electrican campaigning starts 2022, so who dead , dead ! schools will be open , country will be open regardless. Hear more it will start at Christmas-no stimulus package were available but now we will start at Christmas hams and turkeys. Then continue with the ham and turkeys.
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