“We are getting ourselves together, teachers are coming in, fixing up their classrooms, making sure that the desks are three feet apart, making sure that they have everything that they need, and we will be rearing and ready to go for orientation next week, starting on the 2nd,” Ms. Kesia King, Principal of Althea Scatliffe Primary told BVI Platinum News.

She said the preparations would go into the weekend until orientation.

Ms. King said the COVID-19 protocols would be in place as instructed by health officials.

“Once the teachers make sure that they set the rules, ensure the students know what measures are in place, it won’t be hard,” she explained.

She also informed that the shift system has since ended and “we are full-fledged; we are here from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm.”

BVI Platinum also visited the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS); however, the gates were locked.

In the meantime, Chief Education Officer Mrs. Connie George said school readiness commenced last week with the Summer Institute sessions for teachers.

This week will be focused on Kindergarten Readiness Assessment from today August 30 to September 3, and general orientation.

“So all of those are school preparations. There will be the orientation for the entire week," George told BVI Platinum News.

COVID-19 protocols

Mrs. George said the COVID-19 protocols would be carried over into this academic school year from last year.

“We had the COVID-19 protocols because we were open from last year, so what we are doing now is basically reviewing and making sure that whatever may have gone down gets back up to the level that it needs to be,” she said.

Those protocols include schools having hand-sanitation stations, three feet social distancing in the classrooms, temperature testing, and staggering break and lunch times to avoid crowding.

On the other hand, parents should ensure that their children walk with their masks/ face shields and personal hand sanitisers and follow the guidelines.

She said the schools would be checked regularly by the Ministries of Health and Education to ensure that they maintain the standards.

“We were not asked by the Ministry of Health to do anything different; they just wanted to make sure that we are maintaining what they asked from last year,” she added.

The theme for this year is: Educating all in Changing Times – Every Learner Succeeds.