New school rules
STUDENTS and teachers are required to wear face masks when schools resume classes next week, according to Education Secretary Dr Uke Kombra.
But it will be left to parents to decide whether it is safe to send their children to school from Monday, he said.
In a circular dated April 24, Kombra outlined measures that schools must take when classes resume.
In a circular dated April 24, Kombra outlined measures that schools must take when classes resume:
- At the entry point at school, there must be hand sanitisers and/or hand basins with soap for the washing of hands;
- Every person who enters the school must have his or her hands sanitised, or washed for 20 seconds;
- Washing of hands with soap should be done during the recess break, lunch time and before the students and teachers go home.
Kombra mentioned in the circular that the masks should be approved by the Health Department. He did not explain how this is supposed to work. Education Minister Joseph Yopyyopy could not be reached for a comment last night.
Kombra also urged schools to buy temperature guns.
“If a student, teacher, or staff has the flu, cold or fever, he or she must not enter the school,” he said.
Kombra stressed the importance of attending classes.
“However parents are allowed to keep their children at home if they think that it is unsafe for them to go to school,” he said.
“In such a case, the school must be informed. The Department (of Education) will provide lessons on TV, radio and online for those who do not attend classes.
“But these are not the same as the face-to-face lessons.”
He advised schools to use the government tuition subsidy and other available funds for the Covid-19 prevention requirements, and the water sanitation and hygiene (Wash) programme to prevent its spread.
If a student or staff is suspected of contracting Covid-19, schools should take the following steps:
- identify the teacher(s) to whom students and teachers will report to in the event a case is identified in school;
- allocate a clinic or classroom or dormitory as an isolation room;
- isolate the student or teacher in that room, although every care and precaution are taken in handling the case;
- Immediately contact a qualified health worker, local health authorities, or the Covid-19 operational centre on phone 1800 200 for advice;
- Contact the parents or guardians of the student or teacher;
- Ensure there is a local emergency management plan in place to avoid panic, fear, and disorder. Emergency drills with students and teachers be planned and exercised regularly;
- In an orderly manner and where possible seek appropriate advice from the provincial education authority to suspend classes.
16 comments
Classes may resume but think about the topics that are not yet covered due to the lockdown, for the examination grades (8,10 and 12) we all will be in a very complex situation where we will be affected effectively when sitting for the national examinations. Therefore in the coming future, this may lead to many dropouts and the hardwork, time and effort that were put in by the parents will be of waste. So why not the government or the body responsible for the education of this country try to verify the reality of the situation that the students and teachers will be in before making implementations. As a student I have doughts about going back to classes even though education is important we have only life to live.
Education will always be here,but when we loose a child caused by Corona virus whilst attending school will be a life time pain and hard to replace.
I don’t think this is going to work for the rural and most remote schools.
Most schools in PNG do not have access to TV lessons therefore this will not work out.
this a very shallow and not enough. what need to be addressed is how these very measures can be executed successfully. not everyone lives in the cities, especially in pom and lae. the education minister and other members who males up the system need to critically analyze the different areas in which schools are located and address them appropriately. it is observed not even the hospital’s adequate supply of face masks. most schools don’t even have a proper drinking water and sanitation system. Uke Kombra should be ashamed of the negligence of the safety of the students. he is not only failing as an education secretary but also as a father for putting the lives of the children at risks. in times like this png need critical thinkers, not someone who is driven by fame and ego.
Mr. Secretary, all whatever you have stated is very complex. Look at the rural schools, kindi kids, mask-type fit for purpose?, will be used daily-cost involved, who will purchase and supply them-extra cost for both working and non working parents, how soon will it be available etc,. etc.
The Education department is mess around with the lives of our children. Close all Secondary, high, Primary and elementary school for the year. Even the teachers will be overborne with workload such that learning. Quality learning will be compromised.
The Eudcation Department should run an awareness again in each schools before classes begin and also provide an alternative wear that can be used as a face mask.especially for rural schools whom parents could not afford clinical accepted face masks.
Schools will resume but think about the Government schools, there are more then 30 students to a classroom, toilets are unhygienic, most of the time, there is no water. the children’s health and well being is important.
if that to be the case, i assume to add saturday and sunday class, only for grade 10 and 12
The Education Department is not prepared to allow the schools to start classes again that the circular reflects a lot of uncertainties. Why the schools have to meet the costs of PPE, sanitizers, hand wash facilities from their tuition fees when this is unbudgetted. The Education and Health Departments have failed to equip all our schools knowing that our childrens’ education cannot be jeopardised. Where is the funding from the SOE?
The education department is concerned only with teaching and learning and what about the welfare of students and the poor teachers who will struggle to plan,program and implement as the new normal comes with it’s own problems…
Please government of the Day, safety of the students and teachers is more important then Education…and also uncovered topics for grades 8,10 & 12 was not taught so they are not qualified to sit for National Examination
The students and teachers….got respiratory..problem…how could they survive?? Or supocate…..all with nose mask???…it is really a uncomfortable for the kids….and imagine 5/5 weekly….I hope Stu will adhere to masks rules…..
There is always in this country, any policy platforms are designed without some flavor of cultural (PNG life style & developnent) context. It is not only happening with issue. For education of children during this pandemic crisis, if there was a robust and vibrant leadership provided for, I wished the education calendar should have been the first to consider reviewing and revising. Then design a focused strategic approach, including resizing of class sizes, time allocations, shift arrangements or event utilization of digital platforms, and implementation of which should well coordinated using multiple-sectoral approach such as involving health workers, security forces.
The intensity of such mult-functional approach should differ from school to school depending on their local setting.
Isnt the way it resound now appears suicidal?
Government have to be critical thinker before making the decision because they didn’t set up the settlelit classes where students can excess Internet classes by staying at their respective places. In regards to issuing of the preventives measures, only students lives in the urban area will strictly issued but think of those live in rural, some will received and others will not. Therefore onbehave of student safety, government have to make the right decision and also grade(8s&10s&12s) can’t seat for the national examination with luck of knowledge.
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