Parents are to collect their children's learning resource packages from schools from May 14th

With schools expected to be closed until June 16th this year, Education Minister, Rosy Akbar is advising parents that it is their responsibility to pick up learning resource material packages for their children from their schools from May 14th.

Akbar says teachers are to report to school where possible from Monday 20th April to facilitate teaching materials for home-based educational activities for the students.

She says the ministry understands that these are not normal times and there are a number of factors such as damages to facilities by TC Harold and the travel restrictions that are in place. Akbar says where teachers cannot physically report to school, they are to liaise with the Heads of Schools and work from home.

Akbar says for now, parents are encouraged to continue accessing supplementary resources available on the Ministry of Education website, Google shared drive, FEMIS, facebook and the ongoing school radio programmes on Radio Fiji 1 and Radio Fiji 2.

The Education Minister says all English, vernacular and test subject project work that form the basis of internal assessments has now been removed from this academic year due to the movement restrictions.

Akbar says when schools resume for classes, internal examinations will be conducted for Year 1 to Year 8, literacy and numeracy examinations for Year 5 and 7, standard examinations for Years 9 and 11 and external examinations for Year 12 and 13.

She says these are extraordinary times and parental guidance, supervision and monitoring is paramount.

Akbar says students will be able to access the Walesi free to air educational channel from Monday 27th April, 2020. Details will be released at a later date.

She says children should return to school when we are COVID-19 free.