Ministry of Education clarifies misunderstanding

Director of Education Clare Browne

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The Director of Education, Clare Browne, has issued a statement in response to rumors circulating in certain quarters of Antigua and Barbuda that the school system would be closed during the upcoming Fourth Conference of Small Island Development States (SIDS4).

According to Director Browne, there is no truth to these rumors. The school system will remain open throughout the May 27-30 event.

While the conference will impact the entire country in some way, Director Browne has taken proactive measures to ensure that the impact on the education system will be minimal.

On the first day of the conference, Monday May 27, the opening ceremony will commence at 9:00 am, and school buses will be used to transport delegates to and from the conference venue. Therefore, the ministry has decided to return to remote teaching on that day only.

The education system will return to normal on the other three days, May 28-30.

Director Browne emphasized that the school buses are not under the direct control of the Ministry of Education but rather, they fall under the aegis of the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, a division of the Ministry of Works.

The Director of Education clarified that the confusion over the school system’s closure seems to have had its genesis in a misinterpretation of a memo that he sent to the principals of both public and private schools.

He also stated that the hosting of the SIDS4 conference would not affect the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) exams, which are scheduled to take place during the same period.

However, he noted that the school buses do not provide transportation for students sitting afternoon exams as students would make their way to their respective schools for that purpose.

In conclusion, Director Browne expressed his surprise and confusion over the rumors circulating online and in some news portals that the school system would be closed during the conference.

He reiterated that there will be school during the SIDS4 conference, albeit that on Day 1, schools will be conducted online using the various platforms available.