The Education Ministry says the reopening of schools today has been done on the advice of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation.
They say schools are an important time for children’s learning and development and, even during the pandemic, it is possible to attend school safely.
It further says UNICEF and World Health Organisation have advised the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Health that it is safe to reopen schools because the latest evidence shows that schools do not drive the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
The Ministry adds as per UNICEF Pacific Representative Jonathan Veitch, COVID-19 does not pose as high a risk to children as it does to adults, and as long as COVID-safe measures are followed in schools, children are actually more at risk of getting COVID in the community than they are in schools.
The Education Ministry also says as schools reopen, the Ministry will continue to work closely with UNICEF and WHO to ensure that children are safe and provided with supportive learning environments.
School for Year 8 to 13 resumed today while Early Childhood Education to Year 7 students will return to schools on Monday.
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