By: Spokesman Newsroom
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Friday 4th June 2021) — Schools in St. Kitts and Nevis will remain closed beyond the initial two-week period as COVID-19 retesting of students and contact tracing exercises continue. Education Minister Jonel Powell, speaking at PM Harris’ press conference on Thursday 3rd June, said the Ministry has decided not to resume face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the school year due to community spread. “We do not think that the risk is worth it to open schools in light of everything that is happening,” he said, noting that schools would be closing naturally at the end of June anyway.
Primary school students will not have end-of-term examinations, as continual assessment throughout the year will serve as the basis for their results. Secondary school students will still be able to write their common examinations. Fifth form students preparing for CXC examinations — whose start date CXC has pushed back to 28th June — will be prioritised for face-to-face preparation sessions. Early childhood centres will remain closed until further notice. CMO Dr. Hazel Laws outlined an ongoing schedule of end-of-quarantine retesting at multiple schools including Sandy Point Primary, Charles E. Mills Secondary, Washington Archibald, Basseterre High School, and Tyrell Williams Primary.