Despite calls from the St. Lucia Teachers’ Union to delay the opening of school today Monday, 11th January 2021; the gates were opened to welcome back students to the physical classrooms.
Citing, a record spike in COVID-19 cases, forty-three (43) in a single day as grounds for possible postponement of scheduled in-school classes for the second term, President of the St. Lucia Teachers’ Union, Don Howell in a public statement urged the Ministry of Education to delay the onsite reopening of school.
The concerns seemingly fell on deaf ears as scores of children around the island made their way to their respective schools for the first time since an outbreak at a secondary school forced the closure of institutions islandwide.
A few concerned parents have been imploring authorities to consider a gap year which will facilitate vaccination.
Pfizer’s vaccine has been authorized for ages 16 and over while Moderna’s vaccine is currently authorized for ages 18 and over. Both companies have begun clinical trials for younger children.