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TORTOLA, BVI — The government of the British Virgin Islands announced Wednesday that public and private schools will resume in-person learning on September 6.
BVI Minister of Education Natalio D. Wheatley made the announcement and said all schools, public and private, will be allowed to open and students will be free to return to school campuses and engage in face-to-face instruction for the 2021 – 2022 academic year.
"The academic school year will begin on Monday, August 23… the official start date for classes will be Monday, September 6," she said, according to the BVI government. "All primary school students will return to a full school day of face-to-face instruction. The school day will begin at 8:40 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. …All other secondary schools besides Elmore Stoutt High School will have a full day of classes.”
Ms. Wheatley added that students of the Elmore Stoutt High School will attend classes utilizing a half-day shift system. Classes for students on the morning shift will begin at 8:00 a.m. while classes for students on the afternoon session will begin at 12:30 p.m.
“The shift system is to facilitate the completion of infrastructural works on the main campus, which includes additional buildings to accommodate senior school students presently housed at Pasea Estate, and the growing population of Junior School students. It is expected to be completed by 2022,” she said.
Students of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College will return to classes on August 25 with registration commencing from August 10 to 11. Returning students may register between August 16 to 23.
All Covid-19 protocols in schools will be updated and made available to parents and public as needed, according to the release.
"Schools will be mandated to abide by protocols. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture is asking for the cooperation and diligence of all stakeholder to ensure that individuals within the schools are protected," stated the release.
