THE Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) will this week send the revised 2022 School Calender to education authorities around the country.
A statement from MEHRD yesterday said the revised 2022 School Calender will enable education authorities aware of the changes made to the school terms and holidays.
The decision to open schools was made by the Solomon Islands Government Cabinet following MEHRD recommendations of the dates that schools, rural training centres and Early Childhood Education centres will open for the 2022 academic year.
All secondary schools Years 7 to 12 and rural training centres will start classes on 30th May 2022.
MEHRD permanent secretary Dr Franco Rodie said secondary and rural training centres teachers should travel to their respective schools by 23rd May 2022 to prepare for the start of classes.
“Years 7 to 12 secondary school students (who will be attending boarding schools or day schools this year) and rural training centre students who are currently residing in their home provinces should travel to their respective schools and rural training centre starting on 23rd May 2022,” Dr Rodie said.
Primary Preparation Year and Primary Schools from Years 1 to 6 will begin classes on 13th June 2022.
Dr Rodie is appealing to primary school teachers to travel to their respective schools by 30th May 2022 to prepare for the start of classes.
Early Childhood Education Centres will start classes on 4th July 2022.
Dr Rodie said ECE teachers should commence their preparation for the year as of 13th June 2022.
He said MEHRD has decided to consider a delayed and staggered approach to opening of ECE centres, schools and rural training centres to minimise overcrowding at schools especially in community high schools that have ECE, Primary and Secondary.
“The other reason for delaying the opening of ECE centres and primary schools is that the children have not had their vaccinations because the vaccine for the targeted children of age between 5 and 11 is not available in the country.
“The MEHRD hopes that the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will roll out a vaccination program that target ECE and primary school aged children between this month of May and July so that the children can be vaccinated against the COVID-19 before they return to the classrooms,” Dr Rodie said.
MEHRD and education authorities will provide additional support to schools to be ready to open safely.
“In supporting schools during this COVID-19 crisis in the country, school principals are advised to use 60 per cent of the grants on COVID-19 preparedness and response related expenditure.
“Forty per cent of the grant received should be used for teaching and learning resources,” Dr Rodie said.