Anna-Lisa Paul
The Concerned Parents Movement of T&T (CPMTT) wants the Ministry of Education (MoE) to set aside the school syllabus for Forms One to Three students currently, and instead focus on their mental health to ensure they can get back to a place where they are focused and motivated to continue their schooling ahead of their return to the classroom next term.
Making the call yesterday during an interview as he responded to the ministry's decision to have all students in Forms Four to Six return to the physical classroom from October 25 – president of the association Clarence Mendoza explained why he thinks this is necessary.
He said, “We would have clearly asked that this October session for Forms One’s to Three’s be abolished. It makes no sense. I think this period should be used for the mental stability of our children by way of school social workers.”
He renewed the call for National Family Services and other entities to get involved at this juncture.
Applauding the decision announced yesterday by Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly – he believed the minister was being true to her earlier promise that both vaccinated and unvaccinated students would be welcomed in schools when the new academic year resumed on September 6.
Mendoza said, “It’s what we have been asking for.”
Declaring this to be a start, Mendoza said the CPMTT was unhappy about the decision to seat students three feet apart.
“We want it to stay at six feet,” he urged.
Commending teachers who grabbed the opportunity to incorporate technology in the teaching processes of the past year, he said inequity and segregation among students is something the authorities had to address.
Mendoza said parents of students in Forms One to Three were happy about the suggestion that they be accommodated in orientation sessions, prior to their return to schools in January 2022.
Contacted yesterday for their concerns regarding the announcement by the minister, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Antonia Tekah-De Freitas said, “Teachers will be returning to schools.”
She said the announcements would be have to be discussed with members before any further feedback could be provided.