Serious Concerns about Chronic Absenteeism in Virtual Learning Classes in The Bahamas Public School System

A suggestion on Online Education - to the Minister of Education, The Bahamas

From: Linda P. Virgil

I have read your reports, and note your concern for the students in your care.

As a former educator, I am saddened about events regarding children who are missing hours of school due to the crisis we are facing; clearly these children are disadvantaged - and will pay dearly later on.

It is our belief that there is a problem that is causing the non attendance or non appearance on virtual of many of the children.

My daughter Melissa and I believe that they do not have access to WiFi, and many do not have electricity.

This may be the root cause of children not attending Virtual School.

My daughter Melissa, a graduate from the great - one and only Queens College, made these suggestions which I thought were spot on and I felt should be shared with you as Minister of Education.

Melissa worked at Cable Bahamas as the Marketing Manager until last year.

I told her I would share with you as it may be the answer to all of our problems - for you, this country and our children:

1) have the Cable Companies, BTC and Cable Bahamas donate WIFI to the Communities. This WIFI would be locked and accessible with a code; or placed these WIFIs at Community Parks for access by our children and adults.

Schooling can continue with supervision, and with the help of Community policing and teachers.

2) Crowding in the classrooms is a problem. Alleviate this by having Businesses donate tents by grades - for each Public School; so that schooling can continue with supervision.

Again, you can stagger the days accordingly.

The Community WiFi will assist with outdoor schooling, and also for those who are not present - due to the alternate days. They too can continue schooling.

We feel that businesses can contribute greatly to these efforts. Perhaps the Government can give businesses which take part in this project incentives.

I ask (1) request - and that is to let the record reflect that these ideas are Melissa’s

Name : Melissa (Baker Virgil) Colebrook (Mrs).

I am thankful that as a citizen and a new mother, she is still conscious and kindhearted to think about those among us who are experiencing difficulties during these trying and unprecedented times.

Have a great day safely.

Linda P. Virgil

Social Crisis in Public Education in The Bahamas

The Social and Political Challenges of  Virtual Education in The Bahamas Public School System

8,000 students inactive on the virtual learning platform throughout the COVID-19 pandemic!

Social Crisis in Public Virtual Education in The Bahamas as CoViD19 Rages

NASSAU, BAHAMAS —  An education recovery task force has been established and will have just 14 days to track down some 8,000 students who were inactive on the virtual learning platform throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin.

Hanna-Martin’s comments came as schools reopen fully virtual for the New Year, with the expected hybrid model postponed for two weeks due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.

She insisted that the task force is a multiagency public-private sector, who started their efforts on Monday with a walkabout in the Kemp Road area which was to raise awareness.

“This task force which will meet again tomorrow will look nationwide as to where there is a situation or phenomenon of children not attending school, some of them for as much as two years,” Hanna-Martin said.

 

“It’s a two-phased effort. Firstly we are going to find them. We have committed to finding every child wherever they are…We are going into the communities, we will find these children through telephone calls and direct contact.”

 

She noted that the second phase will be a diagnostic review of the student to understand the extent of the impact of them being out of school.

“We will devise acceleration programs so that these children in the shortest possible time can reestablish their positioning age-appropriate of where they should be educationally wise,” Hanna-Martin said.

The education minister said today’s meeting with the task force will be to design specific strategies to find these students within 14-days and to put in place goals and an action plan once they have been found.

“We don’t know the reasons why every child has been out of school,” she added.

“One situation may require different interventions. There may be more expanded issues. We will be in the business now of just trying to understand fully what’s happening to that child and see how that child can be supported in being reintegrated into an education program”.

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