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Where necessary, classes will be divided into 2 or more groups which attend school physically
on alternate days to ensure that students are socially distanced in the physical classroom. For
schools with small populations, dividing a class into groups for alternate day attendance may
not be necessary.

All students, whether physical or virtual, will follow the same timetable. This means that
teachers must ensure that work is prepared in a format that is easily accessible to students who
are not physically present. Student attendance will also be monitored by use of an electronic
online register.

2.1 Primary and Secondary School

● Physical reopening for all levels will take place under the Rotating System and/or the
Totally Virtual Attendance system (Secondary only) (see Section 7).
● The Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised that mask wearing be mandated for all
students above the age of eight (8). Therefore, all students above the age of eight (8)
MUST wear masks whilst on the school compound.
● The MOH has further advised that in order to minimize the risk of infection, minimal
opportunities be given for students to mingle.
● Schools are mandated, in line with MOH recommendations, to allow students to
eat/drink whilst seated in the classroom. Breaks (bathroom visits, lunch) should be
staggered (where possible).
● Classrooms and laboratories are to be organised to facilitate 6 ft. (head-to-head)
physical distances as mandated by the MOH. This means calculating
the number of students that can be accommodated in the existing teaching-learning
spaces at the school.
● Schools are authorised to operate physically within normal school hours. Consideration
can be given for exceptions to this timeframe for the provision of classes to students for
Learning Loss remediation.
● The Substitute Teacher System has been repurposed to provide additional supervisory
support for teachers. Schools are asked to indicate their need for Substitute Teachers
through the online channel provided.

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2.2 Early Childhood and Care Centres

● Classrooms are to be organised to facilitate 6 ft. (head-to-head) physical distances as

mandated by the MOH. This means calculating the number of students that can be
accommodated in the existing teaching-learning spaces at the school. Physical
distancing indoors - modify the arrangement of furniture to ensure children practice
physical distancing.
● The placement of furniture must be clearly labeled with the child’s name and it may be
moved outdoors for the implementation of learning activities. The furniture must be
placed to ensure six (6) feet (head-to-head) distance at all times.
● Outdoor space should be utilised as much as possible for the implementation of learning
activities.
● Teachers are required to stay in one area to conduct activities with the same group of
children, limit movement and use a different entrance/exit (if possible).
● The MOH has further advised that in order to minimize the risk of infection, minimal
opportunities be given for students to mingle. A seamless process and layout must be
established that minimises the risk of infection through minimal interaction among all
person when entering and exiting the class, groups and or facility.
● Children should be taught in child-friendly ways about physical/social distancing, why
it is important during these times.
● According to the spacing available at the Centre/Preschool, staffing and the number of
children enrolled, circle time should be carried out in smaller groups (utilising indoor
and or outdoor spaces) while adhering to physical distancing policy of persons being
six (6) feet (head-to-head) apart.
● It must be ensured that grouping of children remains the same. Do not allow mixing of
children from different groups (classes) and teachers.
● A flexible daily schedule must be implemented where needed to accommodate
staggering of children. Age-based consideration must be given to ensure adequate
supervision and maintenance of the recommended measures.

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2.3 Entry Protocol

In addition to the school’s regular entry protocol the following should be put in place:

● Signage indicating the following: “All visitors must wear masks. No mask, no entry”.
− All visitors must wear masks at all times whilst on the compound.
● All persons entering the compound must wash their hands and have their temperature
checked and recorded.

● Visitors must provide contact information to facilitate contact tracing if necessary

(which must be kept to a minimum).

● Visitors must observe the visible floor markers for physical distancing placed at the
school entrance and must comply with instructions to form orderly lines and to maintain
appropriate physical distancing upon entry.

● Physical distancing must be observed on the compound, especially at the sanitisation

stations, cafeteria, washrooms, main office, etc.
● Visitors with flu-like symptoms will not be allowed entry onto the compound.
● Screening questions will be included for any persons wishing to enter the compound
(Appendix I refers).
● Students/Staff displaying flu like symptoms while on the school compound should be
directed to the designated quarantine area. The principal, parent and Education District
Medical Team must be immediately contacted. Parents will be asked to take the student
out of school and seek medical attention at the nearest public health facility. In order to
return to school, the parent must produce written medical clearance from a public health
official. Where health concerns do not involve viral/flu like symptoms a medical
clearance for the health concern from any medical practitioner is acceptable.
● Schools must have a designated quarantine area to which students who display flu-like
symptoms can be assigned to await pickup by their parents (where applicable). These
students must be identified to the principal by teachers, health and safety officers,
security officers or staff. The designated quarantine area must be an area/room with
adequate ventilation, or any available room that is deemed suitable by the Crisis
Management Team. Principals of Primary and Secondary schools had previously
identified quarantine rooms in the preparation for SEA/CXC 2020 and the possible
physical reopening of schools in September 2020. This arrangement will be expected to

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remain in place for the reopening of school in the academic year 2021-2022. For the
ECCE schools, the dedicating of a room for this must be taken into consideration when
establishing capacity for physical classes. The room/area should be located as close to
the exit point as possible.
● The usual procedure when students are leaving before the end of the school day must
be adhered to.
● Safety/Security Officers or other appointed persons shall, via the use of non-contact
infrared or standing thermometer, monitor the temperature of personnel at the school’s
entry point. Students, staff or visitors with a higher-than-average temperature (over
37.5 degrees Celsius/99.5 degrees Fahrenheit) should be directed to a cool area nearby
and their temperature rechecked after 5 minutes. The environmental temperature must
be taken into consideration; therefore, temperature checks must be done more than once
before a student or visitor is deemed to be a person of concern. Please note that persons,
other than students, with flu-like symptoms must be barred from entering the
compound and their temperature should not be taken. It is possible for a person to
display flu like symptoms without having a higher- than-normal temperature.
● Visitors with a high temperature reading should not be allowed entry and will be advised
to contact school administration via telephone or email instead of face-to-face.
− A screening notebook/questionnaire should be put in place to be used if a
member of the staff or student body has two (2) consecutive high readings (over
37.5 degrees Celsius/99.5 degrees Fahrenheit). Headings in this
book/questionnaire should be in accordance with the following suggestion
− American Medical Association: Pre-visit screening script template. Retrieved
from https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-06/physican-guide-
reopening-practicescovid-19.pdf)
● Student drop-off and pick-up must be managed to reduce the presence of persons/drivers
on the school compound. Drop-off and pick-up times must be close to start and end time
of the school day.

● All parents/guardians must provide up to date contact information for use in the event
of an emergency.

● In emergency situations, where parents or guardians are expected to visit the school, it
is advised that only one (1) representative be allowed entry.

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