FACILITIES at all government schools, including buses, have been cleaned and disinfected as administrative and teaching staff return to work today.
However, students at all levels have been told to stay away from schools for two additional weeks, until March 29.
The Education Ministry said yesterday that it was fully committed to ensuring the safety of all students and school personnel.
“This has been done so that schools can achieve their goals for the academic year and reduce the effects of the temporary disruption of teaching in educational institutions,” it said in a statement.
Classes at all educational institutions were initially suspended for 14 days from February 25 as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
However, the GDN reported on Friday that the closure had been extended until March 29, except for administrative and teaching staff.
The ministry had uploaded the ‘Exceptional Leave Lessons’ on its website, with instructions for parents to follow between February 25 and March 10 for all levels of education in subjects such as Arabic, English, science, citizenship, social studies and maths.
However, Bahraini parents expressed frustration over the lack of a clear educational plan for the specified period, with some struggling to teach their children at home.
Some of them told the GDN it has been difficult to access the ministry’s ‘Educational Portal’ due to high pressure on the system, while others called for a unified virtual learning plan.
Several private schools resorted to e-learning platforms to continue teaching students remotely during the period of the closure.
noorz@gdn.com.bh
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