FOR East New Britain, protecting students’ health and recovery of lost lessons including incorporating technology will be an emphasis when classes resume for Term 2 tomorrow.
Provincial Administrator Wilson Matava who is also the chairman of the Provincial Education Board in a circular dated April 12 to schools, inspectors and parents outlined the provincial strategies for the recovery of instructional hours for schools in ENB. This is in line with the Education Secretary’s circular instruction No.8 of 2021.
Mr Matava said the prevalence of Covid-19 and community transmission is a continuous threat to teaching and learning and the province will facilitate the resumption of classes for now but manage any future instructions accordingly.
He said the National Isolation Period meant schools lost three weeks of effective teaching and learning which must be recovered between week 1 and 3 of Term 2. School administrations will decide on the best approach to recover lost lessons and have it detailed in a Lesson Recovery Plan and made available to relevant authorities.
Possible strategies are encouraging outdoor classes, extra lessons, optional weekend classes upon guardian consent, encourage use of TV and radio programs.
Mr Matava said the challenge is everyone to develop strategies to ensure continuity of teaching and learning regardless of there is a lockdown or not. Learning materials for use in class and continue at home is encouraged.
“The other delivery mode is to use various online platforms available,” he said.
Schools must strictly enforce the ‘Niupla Pasin’ including social distancing, wearing of face mask compulsory, use of hand sanitizer, disinfect learning facilities, stay at home if not feeling unwell.
“All schools must re-activate their school-based Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Protocols. Additionally these plans must be updated to capture the current information regarding the pandemic,” he said.
