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UPDATE: Schools to reopen with ‘face to face’ learning Sept 6, 2021

- Primary schools will have full day session while ESHS will have shift system
Enis Adams Primary School: All primary school students will return for full school day of face to face instructions on September 6, 2021. Photo: VINO/File
It is expected that in addition to the update on school re-opening, Education Minister Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) may also touch on public health measures regarding students and a possible return to full in-person learning. Photo: VINO/File
It is expected that in addition to the update on school re-opening, Education Minister Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) may also touch on public health measures regarding students and a possible return to full in-person learning. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is scheduled to make a long-anticipated announcement on the re-opening of schools via a virtual address tonight, August 10, 2021. Photo: Facebook
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is scheduled to make a long-anticipated announcement on the re-opening of schools via a virtual address tonight, August 10, 2021. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Schools in the Virgin Islands (VI) will reopen with face to face instructions on September 6, 2021, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) announced during a live update on Facebook this evening, August 10, 2021.

“The official start day for classes will be Monday the 6th of September, 2021. All primary school students will return for full school day of face to face instructions,” Dr Wheatley disclosed.

He said the school hours for primary schools will be 8:40am to 3:30pm.

ESHS on shift system

According to the Education Minister, all students of the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) will attend classes utilising a half-day shift system.

He said students on the am shift will begin at 8:00am and students on the pm session would begin at 12:30pm.

“The decision to have a shift system is to ensure that all students have an opportunity to experience the school environment.”

Face to face necessary for some students

Dr Wheatley said that as a result of the drastic reduction in COVID-19 cases in the territory, the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) unified command team was in a position to make recommendations to Cabinet on amendments to be made on the existing Public Health Order.

He said these amendments include the relaxing of constraints for schools, which means the Ministry can now outline the plans for education for the upcoming academic year.

“All schools public and private will be allowed to open and students will be free to return to school campuses and engage in face to face instruction for the 2021/2022 academic year.”

Dr Wheatley said this decision has been made “because we recognise some students will benefit from being in the classroom environment and we are laser-focused on our students’ success.”

Schools must abide by COVID-19 protocols

The Minister emphasised on safety and noted that schools are mandated to abide by the protocols successfully implemented in the previous academic year and “we will take measures to ensure that these measures are adhered to because we cannot afford to take chances with our students or teachers’ health.”

Dr Wheatley also said the academic school year will actually begin on Monday, August 23, 2021 with a Virtual Professional Day for all educators in the territory.

The theme for school year is ‘Educating all in changing times- Every learner succeeds’.

According to the Education Minister, the theme is a continuation of the one from last year but expanded to further emphasise that every leaner will have success in their academic pursuits.

See previous article published August 10, 2021

Education Minister to make announcement on school reopening tonight

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is scheduled to make a long-anticipated announcement on the re-opening of schools via a virtual address tonight, August 10, 2021.

The address is scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm on the Facebook page of the Government of the Virgin Islands and simulcasted at CBN radio 90.9FM in addition to ZBVI 780AM.

It is expected that, in addition to the update on school re-opening, the minister may also touch on public health measures regarding students and a possible return to full in-person learning.

20 Responses to “UPDATE: Schools to reopen with ‘face to face’ learning Sept 6, 2021”

  • 007 (10/08/2021, 19:32) Like (4) Dislike (14) Reply
    Not until 2022. Disgraceful.
  • Foolishness (10/08/2021, 19:57) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    if foolishness was money they would be so much rich folks here

    under the past education minister he never rebuild the school for our children

    The winds of 2017 damage the only public high school and it took until 2019

    education systems all over this universe have suffered because of a pandemic

    Some of we rather send the children into public settings so we can run out and make the dollar


  • @007 (10/08/2021, 20:48) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
    And I suppose you would just keep the kids out of school until everyone is vaccinated? We all know that’s not going to happen. Open the schools, let’s get on with our lives, everyone has had their chance to get vaccinated.
  • bb dsadffg (10/08/2021, 21:48) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
  • HMMM (10/08/2021, 21:58) Like (2) Dislike (16) Reply
    School reopen toface toface is a no no.
  • Health 1st (10/08/2021, 22:25) Like (16) Dislike (17) Reply
    You all rushing children back to school
    Was so hoping at least for Sept month online to ascertain what we are truly dealing with between delta next door, and hurricane season hovering. Everybody wants school open, bar open, loitering and gathering. Are you all ready for what you all are asking for? Vaccinated or not
  • Mark (11/08/2021, 03:18) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    Like Alta prefer to have a set of uneducated children. We have enough already. Open the schools so the children can learn.
  • musa (11/08/2021, 03:19) Like (1) Dislike (15) Reply
    Our students need more time off after the hurricane season will be a little better i think
  • Stitchie (11/08/2021, 04:25) Like (49) Dislike (2) Reply
    Whatever the government do its going to be a problem to some people just can't catch a break with some of you..it's sickening
  • soo (11/08/2021, 06:04) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    If students go morning? What will they do for the remainder of the day?
    • Figure it out! (11/08/2021, 09:09) Like (11) Dislike (4) Reply
      Don’t you think that parents should take some level of responsibility when it comes to ensuring that their children are well engaged?
    • At soo (12/08/2021, 06:02) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Them belong to you or the government? GO FIGURE IT OUT! You all want government to put everything on paper for you all. If they go half day, I’m sure the teacher may assign work for them to do at home the other half of the day. If not, let them go home and revise/do homework/review for next day! These are BIG high school children! Y’all sickening now man
  • The watchman (11/08/2021, 07:06) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    The ignorance last year of the Principal and Teacher, with the Teacher especially wanting my child with a face shield and not a face mask began. Telling my little one that they must take of their mask in class while talking, how this moo moo get a teacher. I kindly told my child do not study your teacher with that. Look this ignorance will not, I repeat will not happen this year. The Department and the Minister needs to deal with this.
    • wow (11/08/2021, 08:40) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      You sound like one of them woman who get breed after a day of island hopping and drinks at Willy-t - hope your child don’t grow up with that ghetto ratchet attitude you have. A major problem around here; to many children who wasn’t ready ended up getting children. Them only concern about the money they can have to turned up; but not have for the education of their own children….
  • Eagle Eye (11/08/2021, 07:08) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Look at Covid cases now
  • peter t (11/08/2021, 07:10) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I will only say this is an opportunity to test every household in the bvi by testing the student so that we can know where the virus is.
  • NOPROBLEM (11/08/2021, 07:11) Like (9) Dislike (6) Reply
    HELLO the parents, the school work.
    TEACHERS doing nothing not in the classroom,
    sending all the works home for the parents to do .
    its time for the children to go back to school thanks.
    MR MINISTER.
  • We all want our businesses open, why not the schools? Can businesses funtion effectively without proper education? (11/08/2021, 07:24) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hold your mouths, and let see what will happrn in the next week or two. If we get a severe hurricane and or get another covid-19 spike, the schools openning can be adjusted to a late date, maybe late Sept. or early Oct. Month or there about. Nothing wrong with setting dates. Sept. 6, 2021 may work reasonable well.
    Positivity is better than negativity and passivity. Don't you think so? Say yes.
  • o (11/08/2021, 08:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well well this is amazing after all the minister appeal for people to take the vaccine every one kick up now the school is going to reopen it's all about d same vaccine come on people let's be real up in here
  • Going some where (12/08/2021, 18:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Looks like we are are finally going somewhere.


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