The number of schools that temporarily close their doors due to cases of contamination of Covid 19 continues to increase in recent weeks.
The latest is the Lorette College in Curepipe. It is a teacher who was contaminated by Covid 19. According to information, as soon as the news was confirmed, students were asked to go home at 10:30 am, while teachers had to stay on site for a few hours before leaving.
This raises several questions, especially with the resurgence of cases of covid19 nationwide. And this despite the success of the national vaccination campaign that is still ongoing.
For example, the effectiveness of the anti-covid protocol put in place by the Ministry of Education.
Certainly, the protocol provides that the establishment in question be closed for two days to give time to teams of the Ministry of Health to disinfect the premises. Teachers and students who came into contact with the infected person must undergo PCR testing and be in self-isolation for 14 days. Only then can they return to school.
But what about the others, the teaching and non-teaching staff, and the students?
There is no requirement for PCR testing or contact tracing. Many of them may have been in contact with the infected person who attends the same school.
So far, the competent authorities have not yet reacted on the issue.
Some unions have even asked the Ministry of Education to delegate specialized medical staff to the Covid 19 to the schools, especially with the situation and the number of cases that continues to increase.
But the authorities cannot accede to this request because of lack of manpower. Indeed, most of these specialized personnel are assigned to quarantine centers.
For Patrick Freyneau, president of the Secondary and Preparatory School Teachers and other Staff Union, the protocol put in place by the Ministry of Education must take into consideration the opinions of the various stakeholders. “If we refer to the protocol of June 2021, there is nothing about the closure of schools in case of Covid-19. What will change the value of the day if it is only ‘buying time’ before the vacations. With the increasing number of cases in schools, I think that already it was necessary to maintain the social distinction in public transport. Moreover, with the resumption of grade 12 and some grade 13 students, will the department provide a new protocol? For the moment, we have not heard anything on the subject. But with the situation not improving, we must know now the position of the Ministry, because in some cases, only 10% to 20% of the syllabus has been completed during this second term, “he argued.
He asked that the Minister of Education meet as soon as possible with all the stakeholders “the various unions and NGOs, among others. I think that a working session is necessary to find a solution for the good of the students.
He advocates for more interaction between all parties involved to avoid the situation getting worse.
