Schools in EHP closing early as teachers, staff get infected

EASTERN Highlands, one of the worst-hit provinces in terms of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases, is closing down schools early because of the number of teachers and staff getting affected.
Acting provincial education director Wesley Albert said since January, 26 teachers and education officials in the province had died from the Covid-19.
He said all elementary, community and primary schools had been told to suspend classes for the rest of the year. Albert said the shortage of teachers in turn affected students.
“It is critical at this time to save our teacher population from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in schools and in the province,” he said. Albert said it was likely that some of the teachers had been vulnerable to the virus because of their age and their interaction with students every day.
“The province needs to protect the teachers. We cannot afford to lose them,” he said.
He said secondary and high schools had been advised to complete final assessments and all technical, vocational, education training (Tvet) should complete compulsory assessments to qualify students for graduation and certification.