Today is designated as World Teachers Day! Today is also the day that due to increased COVID19 cases in New York, schools are about to close in 19 zip codes across Brooklyn. Today as well, Jamaican teachers and students return to school on virtual google platforms.

Schools are the most vulnerable places when it comes to the spread of COVID19. Governments across the world take care in managing return to school activities. A crowded classroom exposes everyone to COVID19, including the teachers. The decision by the Ministry of Education to reopen school virtually is a good one. Though after seven months of little or no classroom learning, many students will require special attention.

Kudos to the teachers, they have been preparing for a return to virtual school. They turned out in droves for workshops offered by the MOEYI, JTA; And recently several Jamaica Diaspora Taskforces collaborated to offer Gooogle refresh sessions. It was welcoming to see thousands of teachers across the island join these Diaspora sessions. It’s a testament to the love teachers have for their profession and the children they teach and their commitment to being ready today on October 5, 2020, the first day schools return to session. It’s also very heartfelt to see so many individuals, Alumni groups, and Church groups responding to the needs of tablets and laptops across Jamaican schools; That need is still great.