Category: News

PRESS RELEASE Closure of Tobago Schools on Easter Tuesday

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PRESS RELEASE: GOODWOOD SECONDARY CLOSED TO FACILITATE PLUMBING REPAIRS The Division of Education, Research and Technology advises that face to face classes at the Goodwood Secondary School will be suspended from Thursday 17th February 2022 to facilitate urgent repairs to plumbing infrastructure on the school’s compound. In the interim, all efforts will be made to ensure that all students are engaged in online learning until further advised.  The Division’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and the contractor are working assiduously to have the issue remedied in the shortest possible time frame. The Division of Education, Research and Technology will explore all avenues to ensure that students will continue to receive quality learning experiences. ###

On Tuesday 15th February, Secretary Zorisha Hackett and Assistant Secretary Orlando Kerr of the Division of Education, Research and Technology, were invited to the Central Administrative Service Tobago (CAST) Office for a symbolic handover of the National Child Policy (NCP).  Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister- Gender and Child Affairs, The Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy, handed over the child-friendly version of the policy which focuses on raising awareness on the rights of children and the Government’s commitment to protecting our children. Secretary Hackett endorses the need to create a society where children can enjoy their rights, develop to their fullest potential, and contribute positively to society. She reiterated that tis policy provides clear goals, strategies and activities to moves us from where we are as a nation, as it provides a roadmap for how citizens should work together to help promote the well-being of our children. The Division wishes to thank Minister Webster-Roy for the opportunity to be a part of the initiative.

Secretary for Education, Research and Technology, Assemblyman Zorisha Hackett visited the three (3) primary schools in her electoral district and her alma mater on Monday, February 14th, 2022. Secretary Hackett visited the Golden Lane Government, Bethesda Government and Plymouth Anglican Primary Schools. Her visit was focused on offering words of encouragement and motivation to the standard five students on their return to face-to-face teaching and learning. She also reminded them of the importance of following all Covid protocols and urged them to stay safe even in their exuberance to interact with their teachers and friends. In commemoration of Valentine’s Day, Secretary Hackett also showed her appreciation to principals and standard five teachers at the schools. Each received a rose and commendation for their dedication and commitment to the nation’s future leaders. The students will all receive Valentine’s treats today.

The Secretary of the Division of Education, Research and Technology, Assemblyman Zorisha Hackett, hosted a series of stakeholder meetings on Monday 24th, Wednesday 26th and Friday 28th January 2022. These consultations were held to afford all stakeholders the opportunity to share their individual realities of school operations in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Understanding that stakeholder involvement is critical in change management; the Secretary, Assistant Secretary and technical staff at the Division offered principals of secondary, primary and ECCE schools the opportunity to deliver 5-7 minute presentations in response to the Draft Policy that guides operations of schools for Terms II and III. The virtual stakeholder meetings also welcomed various units within the Division, representatives of TTUTA, and the PTA. The following are agreements stemming from each meeting: The vast majority of the nine secondary schools (77.8%) agreed that students of Forms 1-3 should return to physical school from February 7th. The majority of primary school principals were in agreement of opening schools to the Standard 5 students in the first instance, and to all remaining students from Term III. Principals at the primary school level agreed to bi-weekly sanitization of the school’s compound. Consideration to be given to special needs studennts who require assistance to remain clean, and those students who experience an adverse reaction to mask-wearing or lack the cognitive abilities to adhere to the mask-wearing protocols. The Division will conduct a further assessment to provide the appropriate support to students with special needs. ECCE principals agreed to students return in Term III with 80% indicating a preference to delay until September 2022. This will allow for appropriate staffing and infrastructural repairs. The design and management of the models that schools will utilize will be determined by the principals and their management teams in keeping with the principles pf School Based Management (SBM). The School Supervision Unit, the Technical Advisor and the ECCE Managers will monitor the schools’ performances as we embrace this new phase of reopening our schools. Forms 1-3 students at secondary schools, as well as Standard 5 students of the primary schools, shall return on February 7th along with their counterparts in Trinidad. At the primary level, all remaining students from Infants to Standard 4 will return to school in Term III. ECCE students are also expected to open their doors again in Term III. A flexible, but well-managed blend of face-to-face and virtual modalities is vital for success in the  upcoming months at the ECCE, primary and secondary levels. The Secretary and members of staff at the Division of Education, Research and Technology extend gratitude to all stakeholders for their valuable contributions which will guide the Division’s course of action as it relates to the operation of schools for Terms II and III.

The Division of Education, Research and Technology distributed 1072 devices to students and teachers of both primary and secondary schools. These are the latest allotment of digital devices distributed by the Division. During a simple handing over ceremony at the Division’s conference room on January 17, 2022, Secretary of the Division of Education, Research and Technology, Assemblyman Zorisha Hackett, said that the global pandemic has forced the region to adopt what can no longer be considered the new normal but “a way of life – our normal.” Secretary Hackett recommitted to improving the working conditions for Tobago’s teachers and called for continuous collaboration on the way forward for the island’s education system. Assistant Secretary, Councillor Orlando Kerr said that he is aware that he pandemic has “widened the gap between the haves and the have nots.” He stated that “we understand the importance of education and the importance of reaching every student.” Mrs. Denese Toby-Quashie, Administrator in the Division said that in addition to schools’ infrastructure and technology, special focus will be placed on training programmes to ensure that teachers can adapt to the growing demands of online teaching and reintegration to face to face learning -END-