Considering that no single case of coronavirus has been reported in Dominica, the government said schools will remain open to keep the children learning. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said his administration understands the concerns of the public regarding the spread of COVID-19, but that schools will remain open for the greater good.
“There have been suggestions from the public on the closure of schools and I appreciate that suggestion,” Skerrit said. “There are merits to it, but there are also challenges to it. School is not only a place you go to learn to read and write and do arithmetic, but you also have another challenge. And so we have decided to hold back the closure of schools and to use the opportunity of students’ attendance in school to educate them.”
The prime minister said there is no point closing schools when the coronavirus that necessitated the closure has not even been reported on the island. He also added that when children learn the rudiments of hand-washing and hand sanitization in school, they could always return home to teach these to their parents and siblings and extended family. He said there is a lot to learn from children when they attend school regularly.
Skerrit added that the decision to close schools is a heavy one that cannot be taken lightly since there are lots of factors to consider. He however added that “if the need arises, then certainly, we will make the decision to close schools.” But until then, students will keep on learning and washing their hands to keep healthy.
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