People’s Alliance Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says several parents of Queen Victoria School, Ratu Kadavulevu School and Adi Cakobau School are still concerned about the safety of their children since the re-opening of schools.
On the 3rd of this month, Rabuka called on the Government to delay the re-opening of schools because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
Rabuka says perhaps there should have been a delay, especially for boarding students.
The Education Ministry has stressed that the reopening of schools has been done on the advice of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation.
It says UNICEF and the World Health Organisation have advised 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 Education Ministry says positive cases seen so far in schools is a reflection of what is happening in the community and it has been made clear that the decision to send children to school rests with parents.
In a statement on the Fijian Government facebook page, the Education Ministry says there are currently COVID-positive cases in the community which naturally means that a few students and teachers will also have COVID-19.
It says at least in the schools, there is a higher degree of control in terms of following COVID-safety protocols.
The Education Ministry says rather than just focusing on schools, we all need to follow and practice stringent COVID-safety protocols in communities.
It says while some parents understandably have concerns, there is obviously a larger number who are sending their children to school – as can be seen in the fact that schools have had over 60% attendance on average in the first week.
The Ministry the attendance in the North is low compared to the other Divisions.
We have sent questions to the Education Ministry.
