The 2021 back-to-school day face-to-face was this July 05 and 06. There were some murmurs from non-vaccinated school personnel who conducted a PCR test and who have not got their results yet. The DPM, Leela Devi Dookun Lutchoomun has also visited two schools to commemorate the resumption of face-to-face classes and to ensure health protocols established by the Mauritian government are being respected. Syndicates keep faith that the management of staff and students and the Split Classing system will be flawless.
Manageable with 50%
The students who resumed this Monday are the grades 4, 5, 6 in Primary Schools; 9, EP9+, 11, 13 in Secondary Schools and 11 and 13 for Academies. And on Tuesday, grades 4, 5, 6 in primary schools, secondary 7, 8, EP7, EP8, EP9, 10 and 12, and 10 and 12 for academies. Concerning the students aged 18 or over, only the vaccinated ones and those who presented a negative PCR test dated no more than seven days were granted access to their respective colleges. General situation of the management of students and health protocols, the authorities announce positive. Even the syndicates confirm, “According to accounts reported to the GTU, the situation was well managed. We attribute this good management to the fact that only around 50% students are resuming per batch and classes are being divided for better control and respect of health protocols” , Vinod Seegum from the Government Teachers Union, admits.
Same positive note from the concerned Ministry, the Deputy Prime Minister (VPM) Minister of Education, Higher Education, Science and Technology Mrs. Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun paid a visit to Sir Abdool Raman Osman State College (SARO) and at Sodnac State Secondary School. She stated that the main priority remains the health safety of students and staff in the sector, she also pointed out that all precautionary measures are observed in classrooms, with social distancing being enforced and disinfectants used frequently. She said she was confident that students will be able to resume their studies in the best possible conditions, after a four-month pause with school holidays and the period of lockdown due to a resurgence of the coronavirus in the local community. She also congratulated SARO for setting up an isolation room to accommodate students who show symptoms of COVID-19.
Unvaccinated staff admitted with attendance slip!
The GTU, hopes that following days will be professionally managed, “we are even sure, since a solution has been found for non-vaccinated staff” Vinod Seegum adds. There has been a major issue during the first resumption day that was cleared by evening. The unadmitted and non-eligible for vaccination staff have been doing their PCR test since last Thursday but they have not got their results to date. They will be receiving it by end of this week maximum. Since they are not going to be paid for unattended days, they compelled the ministry for a rapid solution. They will have to get an attendance slip from the hospital as proof of subjection to a PCR test. However, the ministry explained its’ incomprehension on why those staff got their tests done at the last minute. Bhoseparsad Jhugdamby, chairman for Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE) stated: “There has been confusion in the transmission of information by the authorities since the amendment in Quarantine act concerning school staff, because it was not stipulated that the vaccine was necessary and the new regulation arose! In addition, with this centralization of the PCR center in Port Louis, the Staff have had to and will have to travel long distances for this purpose. We demand the Minister to consider deployment of mobile units in the respective schools for both staff and students.”
Special cases
As a reminder, Vinod Seegum says, “only special cases as pregnancy, allergy prone, cancerous and Chimio patients, and any special case approved by a certified specialist are exempt to vaccination and subject to PCR test. It has been reported to us that people who resist getting vaccination to resume work may be counted amongst those who will have to present a negative PCR test dated from less 7 days. It will be a good thing”. Positive about face-to-face school resumption, He adds, “nothing can replace face to face schooling and education. Mauritius is not prepared in terms of technology and network accessibility to go fully digital in the education sector”.
Schools Closed in New Red Zones
With the announcement of the New Red Zones, that is, in addition to Vallée des Prêtres, there is Part of Plaine-Verte; Part of Le Hochet / Terre-Rouge; Part of Riche-Terre; Cité-Martial schools will be closed namely Vallee des Prêtres Government School, Jean Lebrun Government School, a Star School, Morcellement Raffray Government School, H Ranmarain Government Shool, considered a ZEP School and two Special Education Needs Schools (SEN) in Plaine verte, The Islamic Cultural for Disable Children and the Century SEN School. Same for all pre-primary schools in these declared red zones in the Ministry’s communiqué. Online courses and Classes on MBC TV will be considered.
