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Schools re-opening on Jan 4, 2021, with ‘Hybrid Learning’ approach –Dr Wheatley

-said social distancing a factor with re-opening strategy
Enis Adams Primary School in Meyers Estate, Tortola. Deputy Premier Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has announced that schools in the Virgin Islands (VI) will re-open on Monday, January 4, 2021, with a hybrid blended learning approach. Photo: VINO/File
Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley said because of the number of students and requirements of social distancing at the Jr ESHS, the majority of classes will be online, with some on-campus sessions. Photo: VINO/File
Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley said because of the number of students and requirements of social distancing at the Jr ESHS, the majority of classes will be online, with some on-campus sessions. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI - Deputy Premier Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) has announced that schools in the Virgin Islands (VI) will re-open on Monday, January 4, 2021, with a hybrid blended learning approach.

The announcement was made today, December 31, 2020, during the Fifth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola.

Scheduling adjustments to be communicated – Dr Wheatley  

Hon Wheatley speaking during an announcement to the House said, “Schools will open on Monday, January 4th and will continue, for the most part, utilizing the hybrid blended learning approach. Individual schools have some slight adjustments to the scheduling of contact hours to better accommodate students.” 

He said parents, however, should expect communications from the school’s principals regarding adjustments to scheduling where ‘Hybrid Learning’ will be with a combination of online teaching and on-campus sessions.

He said for a majority of schools, however, there will be no adjustments to the scheduling.

ESHS Jr & Sr Scheduling

For the Elmore Stout Jr High School, Dr Wheatley said for the first week of class, sessions will be held online, but by the second week, children will be given a schedule for on-campus contact session to be communicated to parents via email.

He said because of the number of students and requirements of social distancing, the majority of classes at the Jr school will be online, with some on-campus sessions.

“Contact hours for students on campus will be used to cover content in Math, English and technical subjects,” Dr the Hon Wheatley announced.

For senior students at the ESHS, however, the Education Minister said the schedule will remain as is was for advent term.

12 Responses to “Schools re-opening on Jan 4, 2021, with ‘Hybrid Learning’ approach –Dr Wheatley”

  • great (31/12/2020, 17:51) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    Awesome time to get these rascals off the streets some riding scooter all day long making noise, some the woman can’t even call them girls no more up and down in town in short clothes acting like we adults and them the same age. Get them off the streets back in school.
    • School nurse (01/01/2021, 13:46) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
      Can’t wait to start vaccinating y’all kids lol
      • The Sleeping Repellent (01/01/2021, 18:52) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Must feel pretty good to be an advocate of a Destructive Mechanisim that can harm our people right? Get out of Here!
  • Well (31/12/2020, 17:52) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is about time let’s see what the parents going to complain about now
    • to well (31/12/2020, 19:22) Like (8) Dislike (9) Reply
      Will mostly be them down the island parents going say they don’t have no money for uniform wait you going hear.
      • concern (01/01/2021, 08:37) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
        COVID 19 affected up island down island and every dam person. So shut your crap. Local and all don’t have the money. Let’s not talk the bull crap.
      • Well (02/01/2021, 10:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        They are not priviledged to change jobs like the locals, they have to get a new permit so if they are laid off they cannot work elsewhere like the locals where will they get tge money from. They have to pay work permit fees, fees for good stand letters from 3 departments they have to pay to submit an applucation at labour dept. They have to pay immigration and visa fees. Those money can be used to purchase the school uniforms and school books etc. Plus they do not have land here.
  • Thanks (31/12/2020, 18:10) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    I expect to have my son on campus, at all times because the internet is always dropping, he has missed too many classes due to this trend.
  • tretretrete (31/12/2020, 20:12) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    When is ESHS lower school going to get adequate furniture? Hon. Minister, it’s time that we get our priorities straight where education is concerned.
  • Our biggest challenge (01/01/2021, 08:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The BVI poor internet is the BVI biggest challenge in advancement,,,No consistency,, Get over loaded very easily,,,,,,, Even the quarantine technical support from an internet quality is failing the quarantine monitoring process,,, The internet here is costly,,, This need serious attention,,U think when all those laptops logg on the internet will work,,,,,U will be getting the frustrating spinning moves Most the time,,,
  • wth (01/01/2021, 14:52) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    So parents want this yet I’m seeing a lot of pictures from New Year’s Eve with people partying with no masks on from God knows where and we taking chance. Ok buddy. I pray no one at any of these events were positive because between crowds not distancing and school opening, I feel we in trouble in the next two weeks.


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