BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Ministry of Education continues to be challenged by the lack of proper infrastructure to administer online learning for students, and those within the differently-abled community are being impacted.
As the Federation continues to see more classes or entire schools shifting to remote learning, questions are being asked about measures in place for those students who fall into the category of differently-abled and also those who need specialised contact training.
During a recent interview, SKNVibes broached the topic with Education Minister Jonel Powell, who accepted that it has been a challenge for his Ministry as the infrastructure of those students are vastly differently to that of their their abled-bodied counterparts.
“It is something that we continue to work on. Remote learning is difficult for anybody and it is a work in progress. We continue to struggle with some of the infrastructures, not just within the schools but even within the home setting,” the Minister acknowledged.
Concerns have been expressed that the Ministry of Education might have been slow to implement the necessary infrastructure to ensure remote learning was a smooth transition, taking into account the lockdowns that were instituted last year.
But Minister Powell noted that education officials are currently working with the various stakeholders to ensure that all of the necessary infrastructures are in place for continuous learning, whether it be with the abled or the differently-abled.
“And so we are trying to work with our various stakeholders to ensure that everybody can get on the same page to at least a minimum standard,” added Powell.
Over the last several weeks, a number of institutions had revert to online learning due to either students or teachers testing positive with the virus.
Charlestown Secondary School had sent an entire class to remote learning, while the Immaculate Conception Catholic School had asked the parents of students of three grades to have themr tested as the school administrator conducted deep cleaning.
Charles E. Mills Secondary School recently had one teacher tested positive and two students at the Washington Archibald High School were deemed contacts of positive cases from within their respective homes.
