Jamaican Public Schools To Close For 14 Days

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 13, 2020 (CMC) – Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has advised, that after consultation with the Ministry of Education, all public schools will be closed, as of Friday, March 13, for 14 days.

Holness, who was speaking at a press conference here, on Wednesday, said the decision will be reviewed after 10 days.

“I believe we have given notice. Tomorrow would have been a low turnout day anyway, as was today.

“Parents will now have Saturday and Sunday to make further preparations for their children, and that would give us time to complete our preparations to ensure that those schools have Internet connectivity, so that they could receive materials to distribute to students, so they can continue their education at home,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Grace McLean, indicated that the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations have been postponed.

Performance Task Assessments for Language Arts were scheduled for Thursday, March 19 and Mathematics for Friday, March 20.

McLean said if new dates are not possible, then the results of the grade-five and grade-six assessments will be used.