Summer school starts on Monday

Plans are now in full swing for summer school, which will start next Monday, July 5. The programmes will be delivered both online and face to face in the public education system, free of cost to all students.

The education ministry said that while the summer school is voluntary, students who have an average below 50 per cent are being strongly encouraged to attend. Some 120,000 students have not been fully engaged in the school system since the pandemic.

Education Minister Fayval Williams said that existing performance data will be used the summer school programme.

Jasford Gabriel, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), said his organisation has no concern as it relates to school premises being prepared to facilitate the students. He said, however, that "from all indications and feedback, the take-up for summer school will be low".

Gabriel also said that "not many teachers are available for summer programmes this year".

Concerns about a possible third

In the meantime, organisations such as churches that normally have summer activities for youth and children appear reluctant to host summer programmes amid concerns about a possible third wave of COVID-19.

The Reverend Newton Dixon, president of the Jamaica Council of Churches, said that he is not aware of church bodies that have planned summer schools or in-person camps for this year.

"As far as I am aware, most churches would have already planned their summer camps and VBS [vacation Bible school] well in advance of the restrictions being lifted, so my impression is that most summer camps this year are going to remain virtual," Dixon said.

The Government has relaxed restrictions that had been imposed to control COVID-19. The entertainment sector has been reopened after a year of lockdown, and gathering limits have been adjusted.

Gabriel said the relaxation of the measures is of particular concern to his organisation.

"If we are not able to do any meaningful roll-out of face-to-face (classes) in September, it's really going to be far more devastating for the education system in Jamaica, and will have further short-, medium- and long-term, negative implications," Gabriel said.