St Vincent and the Grenadines: Phased reopening of schools following Hurricane Beryl

The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines announced that all schools will gradually reopen countrywide for the 2024-2025 academic year. The administration has decided to open the institutions in a phased manner after Hurricane Beryl left an impact on the country.

This move prioritizes safety and ensures that all precautionary measures have been put in place before students go back to their classrooms. A large proportion of primary, secondary and technical institutions are set to resume face-to-face learning from the coming Monday, September 2, 2024.

Consequent upon this, all Government-owned and operated early childhood centres will resume on Monday, September 2, 2024, except the Owia Early Childhood Centre. This centre suffered serious damage during the hurricane and is still to be repaired.

However, due to the differential level of damage occasioned by the hurricane, a number of schools are set to open at later dates throughout September 2024. To this effect, the Ministry of Education has issued a detailed schedule that is expected to further guide the phase reopening process.

Reopening Schedule:

Wednesday, September 4, 2024:

• Kingstown Preparatory School.

Monday, September 9, 2024:

• Calder Government School
• Canouan Government School
• Mary Hutchinson Primary School (mainland location)
• Lodge Village Government School
• Lower Bay Inc.
• Sion Hill Government School
• Stephanie Browne Primary School (mainland location)
• Campden Park Technical Institute
• Adelphi Secondary School
• Canouan Secondary School
• J.P. Eustace Memorial Secondary School
• Georgetown Secondary School
• Petit Bordel Secondary School
• Joseph’s Convent Kingstown
• Troumaca Ontario Secondary School
• Union Island Secondary School (mainland location)

Monday, September 16, 2024:

• Mayreau Government School
• Paget Farm Government School
• Bishop’s College Kingstown

The reopening plan has been done in phases to ensure that each school is fully prepared to take the students back to a safe and conducive learning environment. By working in collaboration with the administrators and health authorities, decisions have been taken by the Ministry of Education in the interest of health and well-being of the school community.

The postponement of the reopening dates of Union Island locations that would have housed students from the Union Island Secondary School, Stephanie Browne Primary School, and Mary Hutchinson Primary School is of primary importance within the reopening plan. The Ministry said that dates for those locations will be announced later because of pending assessments and repairs.

While the island continues to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, the placing of normalcy within the education sector remains a focus, but it is to be balanced with continued emphasis on safety and preparedness.

The nation’s resilience, coupled with the collaboration of the government and its partners, will allow the plan to transit smoothly.