The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) wants the government to heed concerns over reopening of schools scheduled for January 11.
Several stakeholders have expressed the concerns.
They include Early Childhood Administrators and the Saint Lucia Teachers Union (SLTU).
The SLP spokesperson for Education, Senator Guibion Ferdinand, notes that the SLTU has voiced concern about sanitising schools.
Ferdinand also observed that the Early Childhood Educators have issues.
They relate to a lack of consultation.
Ferdinand made the comments in a statement issued on Friday afternoon.
Ferdinand said the SLP notes that the Government has not re-implemented and expanded the one laptop per child programme.
“Neither have they adapted to ensuring that the use of technology in schools becomes a priority,” he asserted.
According to the former school principal, it’s an area which the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted as essential for schooling.
Ferdinand recalled that the SLP has consistently said that educating Saint Lucian children must be a priority.
He said the party believes that the teaching -learning environment should be safe and conducive to instruction.
“Therefore, any decision to return students and staff to the physical school environment should be made with due care and consideration for health and safety concerns of ALL stakeholders,” Ferdinand declared.
“In this case, we call on the government to ensure that a good thing is NOT done badly,” the SLP spokesman said.
He urged the government to address legitimate stakeholder concerns.
Ferdinand indicated that this would avoid unnecessary difficulties with the safe reopening of school.
“Our children deserve the best, ” he declared.
“And we wish them good health and success, especially during these uncertain times,” Ferdinand concluded.
Headline photo caption: Senator Guibion Ferdinand (Stock image)
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