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No 'face to face' schooling for remainder of year- Dr the Hon Wheatley

- Said health of children & Territory must be placed above all other considerations
Online schooling will continue for the rest of the year 2020, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) announced via a live broadcast on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook page minutes ago, Tuesday, August 25, 2020. Photo: Facebook
All public and private schools, primary, secondary, and tertiary learning institutions, must continue with strictly online learning for the remainder of the year. Photo: VINO/File
All public and private schools, primary, secondary, and tertiary learning institutions, must continue with strictly online learning for the remainder of the year. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Online schooling will continue for the rest of the year 2020, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) announced via a live broadcast on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook page minutes ago, Tuesday, August 25, 2020.

The announcement hardly comes as a surprise with the Territory suddenly coping with 17 active cases of COVID-19 and the possibility of others infected but displaying mild or no symptoms.

According to Dr Wheatley, the Chief Education Officer had assembled a task force to come up with a plan for how teaching and learning would take place in this COVID-19 era of schooling and that plan was brought to cabinet last week and was passed.

“In light of this extremely serious reality, I cannot in good conscience proceed with the plan to reopen schools to face to face instruction. This will place administrators, teachers, support staff, and, our most precious resource, our children all at risk.  I am aware of the fact that many are yearning for the return to the classroom, and I have received criticism from many who are advocating for opening the Territory up, but we must prioritize the health of our children and our people above all other considerations.

“Therefore, we will return to online learning for the rest of the year.  This includes all public schools and private schools, and our primary, secondary, and tertiary learning institutions,” Dr Wheatley said.

The Education Minister added that Cabinet will reevaluate in the coming weeks and months to determine when it will be safe to return to the classroom.

More details to follow.

26 Responses to “No 'face to face' schooling for remainder of year- Dr the Hon Wheatley”

  • No vaccine no service (25/08/2020, 17:18) Like (32) Dislike (10) Reply
    Lol told y’all there won’t be any more face to face schooling, if you know the script to this agenda you would never be caught of guard it’s gonna be virtual learning for a long time, this is the new world order, it’s is to divide and conquer hence social distancing, destroy the economies, education, tourism etc etc think what you want but a few years from now lol you’ll be saying what you would of, could of and should of done if you had only knew... Good luck and DoNt FoRgEt To WeAr YoUr Mask !
    • @ No vaccine no service (25/08/2020, 17:46) Like (14) Dislike (19) Reply
      Your arrogance needs a vaccine
      • Lol SMH (25/08/2020, 18:47) Like (23) Dislike (8) Reply
        Before you call that man or woman arrogant maybe you should do some reading and then come back
      • @@No vaccine no service.. We back to been slaves (26/08/2020, 04:29) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
        Thats, the sad reality, sorry, u will have to take it,... if u dont, u cant work, u cant go to school, u cant travel, u may cant even leave your house.. If u doubt me.. give me another realistic solution to this peonlem that will set us free..
    • lander (25/08/2020, 18:50) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      I just want you to know that you're crazy. You might not realize it yet though. You & all your friends and family that feel so powerless and helpless and need a global conspiracy to make sense of it. But you haven't seen your role in the New World Order's agenda have you?
    • wise up (25/08/2020, 18:55) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply

      U watch too much TV stupid a$$ go read a book

    • hummm (25/08/2020, 23:12) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      well said ..i saw it happened in Trinidad few weeks ago..same identical roll out
  • Standadized (25/08/2020, 17:23) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    If there was a standardized curriculum all you would need to do is get you best teachers for a particular subject, pre-record the lessons, develop a timetable and then broadcast the lessons on TVJ and CBN instead of everybody doing their own little thing here and there. Teachers could then link via WhatsApp/Zoom with students and see what they got from these pre-recorded lessons and assist students with and problem areas.
    • @ Standardized (25/08/2020, 17:45) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Not everyone has Cable (TV).
    • @standad... (25/08/2020, 18:12) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      I do not have tv how will by children see that. Its a good idea if we had cable like how we used to before irma, but unfortunately we and many others do not have access to Tvj cbn whatever those are.
    • Outside the box (25/08/2020, 18:54) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Standardized. Exactly. It can all be done on ZOOM. Download Zoom for free. Teachers have classes on Zoom and students have chrome books/laptops. Internet is needed of course. Joining Zoom with video, everyone in the chat can see and hear each other. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Google what Education Departments around the world are doing to ensure Distant Learning is a success. Good Luck!
      • @Outside The Box (28/08/2020, 19:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        The government can contract Knowledgeable retired educators who can teach from the comfort of their homes thus, saving the government money.
  • Ehhh (25/08/2020, 17:35) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    POOR IDEA. especially for pre primary and primary
  • how? (25/08/2020, 17:35) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    How have there been no arrests of the people smuggling back and forth who have single handedly Put us all in danger, ruined our children’s education further. International smuggling is a serious crime yet calls from Willy T and places went ignored. Now we are much worse off and there have been no arrests despite the authorities having been in touch with the criminals who were running the border and up to Anegada. What is wrong with this place? We need that Navy ship back and if the authorities here will not uphold law and order, perhaps something more.

    Don’t get me wrong, our children will get through but this is causing untold hardship to their development and mental health.
  • No bueno (25/08/2020, 17:42) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    These ridiculous selfish people bringing in illegals and now all of us have to suffer, mostly our children who need to develop their interpersonal skills.
  • Covid importer (25/08/2020, 18:15) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look what you have done are you happy now with the lil money you make. Children are now infected because of you. You have no respect for lives just like some people in other parts of the world.
  • Thank you Minister Wheatly (25/08/2020, 18:46) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    As a parent, I was worried and not ready to let my daughter go back to school until things got better.
  • Trump (25/08/2020, 20:37) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    Children are not at risk. Open the schools, implement measures to protect the staff. Require social distancing. Don’t punish the children for the actions of some selfish people smugglers.
    • Suggedtion (26/08/2020, 04:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Look at situation on the geound by 15 Sept, if it gets bettet, then schools can resume in a two shift method,,, . One shift 9 to 12, ...The other shift 1 to 4.. There will be no break for them to play, they finish, they head to their homes, . This two shift will also allow for proper spacing thtt i think is the way forward for now, we cant take face to face schooing away from kids, its like robbing someone of their culture, school and kids goes together...
  • Stop Blaming Human Smuggling (25/08/2020, 22:16) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    There are people who have been on social media posting pics, videos, and Live Streaming parties with no masks or social distancing yet they’ll be the first to point fingers.

    Be responsible for yourselves and you won’t catch the virus.
  • Take time Boss. (26/08/2020, 04:13) Like (2) Dislike (8) Reply
    To make this speech in August is not wise... Mr. Minister, take your time, slow down, think, The wise thing to say is "At this time we will have all schools focusing on online learning and teaching, we wil look at the situation in another 3 weeks and make a decision as it relates to the rest of the year"
  • Economy criminals (26/08/2020, 04:48) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    So, what are all the teachers be doing for their pay? . We lock the place down Yet only govt officials and civil servants get full pay.. Why are we paying out all these monies for no service, no work..We are setting the country backward. In years to come this financial irresponsibility will be worst than the Corona virus...A friend once said to me since in April, as long as the people who are making the decision to lock down the country are getting their salaries, lock down will be a no option or the only option decision....Now im seeing it...If they were not getting paid when the country grt lock down, they will be coming up with good, realistic, safety and econmic plans to keep it open,..yep!..thts the reality....
  • Thankfull (26/08/2020, 05:13) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thank God for your consideration Hon. Wheatley even before covid teachers and students were experiencing respiratory problems in that CTL building.
  • pat (26/08/2020, 09:01) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Deputy Premier we with you four more years
  • Community Service (31/08/2020, 11:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What are going to happen with the community service hours? All the students are on lock down due to Covid-19 but what will happen to their hours? Are they going to still need to do it or not?


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