UNION PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES TEACHERS TO EMBRACE COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AS NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS

Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 07, 2020 (SKNIS): Schools across St. Kitts and Nevis opened their doors on Monday (September 07) marking the official start of the 2020-2021 Academic Year. The Ministry of Education has implemented several new stipulations in and around schools in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the introduction of a shift system blending in-person and virtual learning for students to limiting access of persons entering the school compound to the enforcement of the 3Ws – wearing masks, washing hands, and watch your distance – the school environment is going to look very different until an effective vaccine for the coronavirus is found.

President of the St. Kitts Teachers’ Union, Dale Phipps, appealed to all teachers to embrace the changes brought about by the pandemic.

“Let us ensure that as we adhere to the safety protocols that our students do also,” Mr Phipps stated at a ceremony marking the Opening of the New School Year on Monday. “The task will be much greater than usual, but we will get through this. Everything will not be smooth sailing in the first instance because some decisions will be a work in progress as this is a very fluid situation.”

President Phipps added: “COVID-19 has changed our world, the way we think and conduct business. As we embark on our journey and in spite of what lies ahead, let us all keep our students first and foremost in our minds.”

The opening ceremony was held at the Antioch Baptist Church at Lime Kiln Commercial Development.