#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – August 12, 2020 — Staggered, blended, virtual, online, face-to-face, rotation and now hybrid have entered the vernacular as descriptions of how children can learn in this ‘new normal’ forced upon the planet due to the rampant spread of COVID-19.
The
Turks and Caicos Islands is considering a blended or hybrid approach to formal
education in the public sector, which was today explained by Edgar Howell, the
Director of Education.
“What
is being proposed in the draft guidelines that have been prepared is that a
group of children will come in for a number of days and the other children will
continue on line during those days and then another set will come in while that
first group will continue online,” explained Edgar Howell, TCI Director of
Education today during a Media Q&A hosted by the ministry.
This
is not a shift system, therefore teachers will not have to repeat lessons to
new groups of students each day and the methodology is apparently a favoured
approach.
“The
school administrators as well as teachers for a particular classroom would be
the ones to assist us in that area. You would know that are a certain amount of
students that can fit into a classroom at that time. The teachers would know which students are
able to go online and be a part of the class as well as those who would be able
to be in the classroom setting, so this is avenue, the way we’re looking at it
when it comes to blending the classrooms,” said Karen Malcolm, the Minister of
Education.
The
Ministry of Health has recommended that desks be spaced six feet a part to
uphold global standards for physical distancing in the midst of the pandemic.
Mr.
Howell explained that an audit of school resources has informed the recommendation
in the draft ‘Guidelines
and Protocols for Returning to Schools’ about the hybrid or blended approach to
schooling.
“The
audit helped schools to begin to look at how many students they can accommodate
in a classroom, how they will then look at time-tabling and that was done
sometime in early July. We have the
feedback from them, so they have an idea of how many students they can
accommodate at a time within the school setting and then how many students will
have to be online and how they rotate those students in,” said Mr. Howell.
The
audits revealed that at a maximum, only 12 students can fit into a properly
physically-distanced-classrooms in Turks and Caicos schools.
Despite
the research, the possibility exists that there will be no return to face-to-face
learning in time for the start of the 2020-2021school year.
“Principals
have worked through and continue to work through how that will happen, if we
were to return children, physically to the classroom…” said Mr. Howell.
At
least one private school, Mills Institute has decided to continue online
teaching only for its primary school from nursery to grade six.
In
a letter to parents dated August 12, Mills Institute located in Providenciales,
has also informed that its daycare will remain closed.
The
Media Q&A was held at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales with Sharlene
Robinson, TCI Premier and Wesley Clerveaux, Permanent Secretary of Education
also in attendance.
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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 8th May 2024:A case of malaria has been identified in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The individual is presently stable and receiving treatment. The Public Health team is currently conducting further investigations, however, initial findings indicate the case may be imported. The Ministry of Health and Human Services is working closely with its stakeholders to respond to this finding.
Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Malaria is not contagious and cannot spread from one person to another. It is preventable and curable. However, without prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, a case of uncomplicated malaria can progress to a severe form of the disease, which is often fatal without treatment.
There are five species of Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the greatest threat. Not all Anopheles mosquitoes have malaria, but if they bite a person with malaria, they can become infectious.
Symptoms
Malaria symptoms range from very mild illness to severe disease and even death. The first symptoms of malaria usually begin within 10–15 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. Early symptoms can include:
Fever and flu-like illness
Chills
Headache, muscle aches, and tiredness
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur
If not treated quickly, the infection can become severe. If Plasmodium falciparum malaria is not treated within 24 hours, the infection can progress to severe illness and death.
Severe symptoms can include:
kidney failure
seizures
mental confusion
coma
See a healthcare provider as soon as possible if:
you are experiencing any of the symptoms of malaria, and
you have traveled in the last year to or from an area where malaria occurs
Only a healthcare provider can diagnose malaria. A lab test via microscopy and/or rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) will confirm malaria using a small sample of your blood.
Prescription drugs can treat and cure malaria.
Prevention
Persons traveling to countries where malaria is endemic should take precautions to prevent infection including taking chemoprophylaxis (use of medications to prevent infection).
May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.
We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.
The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.
All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.
The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF investigations.
We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.
“Our daughter is on the plane and they took them off the plane and we don’t know where the people are—she called— and we haven’t been able to get a hold of her since” the words of a panicked parent and one example of the chaos that criminals making malicious bomb threats on the Turks and Caicos’ airports are causing.
That parent was one of many residents waiting anxiously outside the Providenciales International Airport on Sunday, May 5th after Bomb threats were yet again filed against it; simultaneously threats were also made against the JAGS McCartney Airport in Grand Turk.
The couple, speaking to Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, were sitting in their car, the mother in tears, watching as travelers were made to disembark and leave the airport for their own safety.
The TCIAA confirms that it quickly evacuated travellers who were on board the aircraft on the runway at the time, via gates in airport fencing.
Arthur spoke to pilots who were frustrated at the delay.
”From our perspective, this flight is canceled.“ One of them told Arthur.
They expressed the same concern that other residents had shared with Magnetic Media, that it was time for the police to find the culprits behind the repeated threats which have turned out in all cases so far to be hoaxes.
Magnetic Media observed dozens of resident travelers mowing about on the tarmac and outside of the airport just waiting for police to finish their bomb threat protocol for the sixth time in 10 days.
The other threats came on Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27, and Monday, April 29 (2) all via email.
Eventually, passengers were observed going back through security to reboard their flights.
It’s the first time in six encounters that no word has come from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority about the bomb threat, and when Arthur tried to approach the airport to film, he was told not to.
Based on eyewitness reports, several flights were delayed, including at least one international flight to Texas.