Schools not warm to transfer requests

July 10, 2020
Linton Weir
Linton Weir

Linton Weir, president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, says it will be a struggle for secondary schools to accept students seeking transfers as the institutions are in the process of adjusting to meet the requirements brought on by COVID-19.

"Every school is going to be at a pinch right now, so it is going to be very difficult for parents to get transfers at this time," he told THE WEEKEND STAR. "We have seen persons seeking transfers for a lot of different reasons and we have been telling them that, this year, we will not be able to take the transfers because of the whole social distancing that has been communicated to us from the ministries of Health and Education," he added.

Schools, which have been closed since March 10, are now scheduled to reopen physically on September 7 even as some administrators say the infrastructure at some institutions will make adherence to social-distancing protocols problematic. It is not uncommon for persons to be seeking transfers for their children, particularly those leaving primary schools, at this time of the year. However, Weir said that the COVID-19 reality makes the situation challenging for schools to accede to various requests.

"Some parents have genuine cases, but despite of that we have to observe the social distancing. Leaders of institutions are not going to increase the numbers at the institution because they have to try as best as possible to maintain the six feet and reduce the numbers," said Weir

"There are some schools that were regular day schools that have to be shift schools now," added Weir, who is the principal of Old Harbour High School.

Social distancing imposed by the Government dictate that persons should be at least 6ft from each other. Weir is hoping that the distanced is lessened to 3ft apart by September.

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