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Transport associations raise concerns about school closing hours
View(s):Transportation association representatives have raised concerns about the four different times allocated for school closure, and they have made a request to restrict school closure to two allocations.
In a circular released by the Ministry last week, times for each grade was designated as follows: Grade three and four – 7.30 am to 11.30 am, Grade five – 7.30 am to 12 noon, Grade six to nine – 7.30 am to 1.30 pm and Grade 10 to 13 – 7.30 am to 3.30 pm.In a discussion held this week with Education Ministry and Transport Ministry officials, the representatives said children will have to be in school vans and buses for longer hours because of the current time allocations, and this is a risk they do not wish to take.
Taking in to account the health authorities’ instructions, the two Ministries will look into the practicalities of transporting students, following the decision to reopen schools in four stages. It was also decided the necessary changes will be made, after suggestions and concerns made by the transportation association representatives about issues identified in the implementation process, are taken into consideration.
All transport association representatives agreed to abide health guidelines such as maintaining social distancing, sterilisation of vans and mandatory face mask usage, to help curtail the risk of the pandemic. – SI