MINISTRY OFEDUCATION FROM F Chief Education Officer Ministry of Education TO : Principals ~ Secondary Schools DATE 2 26" May, 2020 SUBJECT £ School Preparedness for CSEC and CAPE 2020 The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has indicated that CAPE and CSEC examinations are scheduled to commence the week of July 13-17, 2020. Principals will be requested to facilitate the visits of Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) and County Medical Officers of Health (CMOH) at secondary schools throughout Trinidad. Officers may request seating plans and schedules for classrooms and specialty rooms. In this regard, principals are asked to follow the guidelines below, as advised by the Ministry of Health, in order to ensure compliance with established health and safety protocols for mitigating the spread of COVID-19. 1. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Prineipals are asked to: a) b) ) a 9 ny 8) h) submit critical infrastructural works via the online School Infrastructural Management System (SIMS) and to the office of the Director of School Supervision and Management Division by Tuesday 2 June, 2020. submit a list of required hand sanitising stations via the online SIMS database and to the office of the Director of School Supervision and Management Division by Tuesday 2 Sune, 2020. facilitate visits by officers of the Education Facilities, Planning and Procurement Division (EFPPD) for school compound assessment. ensure that water tanks are cleaned and filled and that the water pump is in good working condition, ensure that all classrooms and specialty rooms scheduled for use are thoroughly cleaned. ensure that the school compound is clean and free of debris and moss. ensure that drains are cleaned, and the grass is cut. ensure that there is adequate furniture.n mm. Prominent Signage a) School Entrance Signage indicating the following is required: All visitors must wear masks. No mask, no entry Masks must be worn at all times whilst on the compound Visitors must observe the visible markers for social distancing placed at the schoo! entrance and maintain social distancing whilst on the compound. Persons with flu-like symptoms will not be allowed entry on to the compound. Protocols must be followed when coughing or sneezing No congregating on the school’s compound Student pick-up and drop-off will be managed in accordance with established protocols to reduce the presence of persons/drivers on the school’s compound, Service providers, who access the school’s compound, must abide by tho guidelines provided by the MOH. b) School compound Posters depicting preventive and protective measures should be displayed throughout compound inclusive of office area, staffroom and classrooms. ut of bounds area(s) must be clearly identified. Markers for social distancing must be placed at entrances to washrooms, cafeteria and any area where students may be asked to assemble, Classroom Staffroom + Fumiture must be arranged so that student and staffroom seating satisfy the social distancing requirement of six (6) feet, + Rooms must be well ventilated. Where there are no windows, air conditioning units must be in good working order, Cleaning and Sanitising + All surfaces must be wiped using the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) recommended mixture of bleach and water on a daily basis before entry and after all have exited the room. Sanitising wipes can be used. © Furiture in use must be sanitised before being occupied by another person. + Bins should have swing type lids and garbage must be securely disposed of.V. Personal Responsibility Vi. a) Sharing © Students should be discouraged from sharing food and drink, books, stationery and other personal items. b) Personal hygiene * Students and staff should be encouraged to walk with a personal supply of sanitiser and/or hand soap. It is optional for students to wear masks whilst in the examination room. Persons should be encouraged to practice proper personal hygiene by presenting themselves in a clean manner, Persons must wash their hands with soap and water after using the washrooms. Persons must engage in frequent hand washing. ©) Screening room © Rooms to be utilized for condueting general observation of students for evidence of flu-like symptoms and for recording whether or not student experienced flu- like symptoms within the last two weeks. d) Stay At Home ‘© Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms MUST stay at home. © Once an individual was ill with flu-like symptoms within the last two weeks, a certificate of medical clearance must be presented. ©) Respiratory Etiquette © Ifthere is a need to cough or sneeze, please do so into your sleeves/elbows. © Keep masks on when sneezing or coughing. ‘© Use a tissue to wipe your nose or face and throw into bins immediately. © Rags are not allowed. Washroom Facilities a) Water and soap © An adequate supply of running water and liquid soap must be readily available at all times, Paper towels and/or hand driers should be made available in washrooms, ‘Washrooms must be cleaned frequently during the break and lunch periods, Door handles and taps must be sanitised with the recommended alkaline sotution or alcohol.‘VIL. Examination Centres a) Supervision of Exam ‘© All supervisory staff must wear masks, b) Seating ‘© Student desks must be placed six (6) feet apart ‘© A Seating Plan must be displayed in each room. © The number of rooms to be used on each day for each subject for the duration of the exam should be submitted by Tuesday 2 June, 2020, to the office of the CEO, DSS and the Local Registrar. The list of rooms must include the room in use for alternative placement of students. Please use the attached template, ¢) Entry and Exit © Markers depicting social distance must be placed outside the Exam room. ‘Students must observe these as they prepare to enter the room. © Aneaxit strategy at the end of exam that ensures compliance with social distancing must be implemented. This applies to exit from the room used as the Exam Centre as well as from the school compound. d) Students with Flu-like Symptoms © Any student who displays flu-like symptoms (including allergies) must provide ‘medical clearance before being allowed into the Examination room. © Alternative arrangements are to be put in place for ill students who present a medical certificate of clearance. If you require assistance or seek further clarification on any issue prior to or during the period of the examinations, please contact the School Supervisors II at the District Office, or the Office of the Director of School Supervision and the Chief Education Officer. ‘The Ministry of Education remains committed to ensure that Principals, teachers and students are fully supported during the post Covid-19 period. ‘Your continued co-operation in these matters is appreciated. bald) —p Lisa Henry-David Chief Education Officer (Ag.) cc Director, School Supervision and Management Division ec Director, Curriculum Planning and Development Division MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Chief Education Officer|Additional Mathematics [Agricultural Science (Double Award) Agricultural Science (Single Award) [Biology cts [Caribbean History Chemistry [Economics |EDPM — [English A [English B Family Resource Management |Food, Nutrition & Health |French |Geography [Human and Social Biology