The Rewards Outweigh the Risks

The recent rains have severely impacted the Jamaican society. From the colossal damage caused to our roadways to the heavy flooding that has left many people homeless, this period of bad weather has certainly left a mark in its wake. The recent bout of heavy rains has resulted in the pushing back of the date that was scheduled for the resumption of face to face classes in 17 public schools.

In October, the Education Minister had announced that the ministry was intending to run a pilot programme for the reopening of public schools in 17 schools across the island. At the time of the announcement, I did not get the opportunity to really ruminate on the news. This recent announcement of the postponement of the plan has given me a chance to consider the issue. In my view, this delay could be a blessing in disguise.

Being the son of two teachers, I feel passionate about matters relating to education. At the beginning of the term, I remember being an advocate for face to face classes. I shared this view because I was consciously aware of the reality that Jamaica’s digital infrastructure could not support virtual learning. I had to then step back and see the bigger picture. It would have been very impractical and reckless to go ahead with face to face classes, especially after that late-summer increase in cases, that was recorded. Therefore, I threw the weight of my support behind distance learning.

Distance learning has brought with it a surfeit of challenges. Many students still do not have access to a device to attend classes on or even stable internet connection to begin. These are only some of the issues surrounding the problematic situation that many parents, children and educators have found themselves in. Now, I was against virtual learning from the jump because I suspected that these would have been the problems that would follow from the albeit involuntary but widespread implementation of this teaching modality.

Nevertheless, it has not been all harm in my book. The push into the virtual space has forced the hands of stakeholders to invest in the development of our weak digital infrastructure. It has caused people in remote, rural, and inner-city communities to understand the power and scope of the internet and the importance of making personal investments accordingly. In essence, we were shoved into the digital space, and while many are struggling, many are adapting as well. And that is a small win to celebrate.

So, I have come to a middle ground that many people agree with – a blended approach. The logistics are not straightforward, but I believe students with the infrastructure to support online learning should continue to do so. But for the ones that absolutely cannot afford to, face to face learning is literally the only option.

In that regard, I support the government’s decision to test the waters and iron out any kinks before making a change on a larger scale. Still, so much could go wrong with the reopening of schools physically. We may see a spike in paediatric cases and deaths. Children may infect parents and other family members with comorbidities. And teachers as well will be putting their families at extreme risk. But a change so big would have been disastrous if made overnight and too swiftly. I also find that policymakers have a propensity to act impulsively. However, I expect the delay to give all stakeholders more time to plan and prepare comprehensively to ensure the risks associated with executing this initiative are mitigated. The holistic well-being of our children must come first in any policy concerning education. Still, it is my ultimate hope that the rewards outweigh the risks.