Amid the COVID 19 health crisis, and the disruption in the school year 2019/2020, the Ministry of Education recognizes the strike on students learning processes and financial instability of institutions, as well as, teachers, and school-workers.
As a result, and in consultation with education and health sector stakeholders, it is finalizing a comprehensive policy aimed at outlining cleared strategies on mitigating several factors and challenges to facilitate the reopening of schools and complete the academic year 2019/2020 in line with the National curriculum.
Sequel to the above, the Ministry of Education also confirms that NO DATE has been set for the resumption of classes and any physical academic activities. Hence, all schools (Public, Private, Faith-based and Community) shall remain closed until the health authorities deem it safe to reopen and begin physical/on-campus activities.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ansu D. Sonii, Sr. commends school-administrations for their continuous effort to ensuring that some curriculum activities continue through distance learning (online) even during the suspension of the academic year and closure of school buildings in Liberia. However, he warns against schools that are asking students to physically take delivery of the learning and assessment materials from campuses, to desist, as such action poses health risks to students.
The Ministry also encourages all students and parents to take advantage of the Teaching by Radio program aired on various radio stations across the country; geared towards providing refresher learning for students as they stay away from school due to the health crisis. The radio program is a thirty minutes interval broadcast of core subjects aired by lesson, by time, and by schedule, for Grade K1 to Grade 12, which provides continuous learning for students in core subjects.
In a related development, the Ministry of Education has categorically announced that there will be no reopening of schools if the health crisis remains alarming due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, it was rumored that schools will resume normal academic activities on the 30th of May 2020, but according to the Ministry, as the coronavirus continues to deteriorate the health sector, the Ministry is not being hasty in reopening schools to complete this year’s academic calendar.
On his social media page, Deputy Education Minister for Administration, Latim Da-thong, said that there was a date set for the reopening of schools in Liberia. “We will inform all stakeholders and the general public when the time is right to begin physical academic activities based on advice from health experts,” he stated.
Following his post, a statement from the Ministry of Education also says, ‘Ministry of Education reiterates its decision on the suspension of academic year and prepares strategies for the reopening’. ‘Amidst the COVID-19 health crisis, and the disruption in the school year 2019-2020, the Ministry of Education recognizes the strike on the students learning progress and financial instability of institutions, as well as teachers and school workers’.
‘As a result, and in consultation with education and health sector stakeholders, it is finalizing a comprehensive policy aimed at outlining clear strategies on mitigating several factors and challenges to facilitate the reopening of schools and complete the academic year 2029-2020’.
Although, the Ministry has warned against the reopening of schools, it is also encouraging students and parents to continue to take advantage of the Teaching by radio program which is aired on various radio stations across the country.
According to the Ministry, the program is a-thirty minute program which is geared towards providing refresher learning for students as they stay away from school due to the health crisis.
Meanwhile, those schools which are anticipating reopening on Monday, May 30, 2020 will have to readjust their program and wait on the Ministry of Education’s official reopening date to avoid any embarrassment.
However, in line with this, Deputy Minister Da-thong yesterday evening appeared on the State Broadcast radio where he also provided clarity on the Government’s position on the reopening of normal academic activities in the country.
Recently, Education Minister D. Ansu Soni provided clarity on the way forward should in case schools will have to reopen. Speaking on a local radio, Minister Soni said, there will be serious adjustment made in the sitting and social activities on campuses to avoid students contracting the virus. Minister Soni further stated that those schools which are in the habit of allowing their students clustering up in groups on their campuses in the name of going to receive take home lessons have to stop.
According to the Minister, all schools need to follow the health protocols and requirements as outlined and help prevent their students against this demonic, remorseless virus.