The habits of students and their parents will change again for the second term. What exactly will they be? The Ministry of Education is still in the process of deciding on the ‘new student lifestyle’. Three options are being studied but the UPSEE wonders if the good idea could really be implemented or if a lack of investment will be announced.
The idea of a new formula remains mainly for the best management of education and the pandemic. The ministry will finally have very little time to reinvent itself and propose the best formula for the start of the new school year.
Saturday classes still not being considered
School on Saturdays is not a preferred formula! The implications would be too heavy, according to the Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE) “this will require everyone to change their lifestyles and the government will have to pay for an extra day for all those involved in the education system“. Saturday is traditionally an overtime day, usually half a day, and for students a day of private tuition. However, it is a formula only put on ice!
Hybrid formula, suitable but very expensive
The first to be analysed is the hybrid formula. It implies dividing the number of students into two parts and alternating face-to-face classes over the five days of the week, while guaranteeing live classes for the other half via webcam on the Student Support Portal where instant interaction will be possible. This formula will require suitable computer equipment and a broadband internet connection without interruptions.
“This is the most suitable option, but it is unlikely to be adopted. It will cost the government a lot of money and the poorest will lose out the most,” says Bhojeparsd Jughdumby, president of UPSEE. “Ideally, every student should be provided with a laptop or a touchscreen tablet and an internet package that will support this use,” he adds. Face-to-face learning is undoubtedly irreplaceable, but the UPSEE president points out, “if properly introduced and monitored, it could prove more than beneficial and effective for students sitting for the SC and HSC exams. ”
A 25% de-loading of the syllabus
Solution number 2 is the deloading of the syllabus by 25%. The deloading system will mainly concern the Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC), the School Certificate (SC) and the Higher School Certificate (HSC). “The question remains whether or not Cambridge will recognise such deloading. At UPSEE, we are rather sceptical about this idea as less than 25% on the syllabus will not ensure a higher pass rate or assure better results. We are still in favour of lowering the 5-credit requirement“, proposes Bhojeparsad Jhugdumby.
Uninterrupted Schooling
The last option is uninterrupted face-to-face classes where the logic is that the student affected by the virus will be counted as simply absent in a special situation and will catch up with his friends or his teacher. Which, according to our interlocutor, “is possibly the simplest of all formulas. Everything will depend on the risk analysis by the Ministry of Health.”
However, the president of the UPSEE does not hide his disagreement with the unilateral tactics of the government which he attributes to “delaying a good democratic decision and including the agreement of all representatives which would have ensured a better management and care in case of crisis” he concludes. The Ministry of Education will announce the winning formula shortly. To be closely followed…
