Schools Closed On Friday, Resumes On Monday
This Friday [April 23] all public “schools will be closed and will resume with remote learning on Monday, April 26th,” the Ministry said this evening.
A spokesperson said, “The Department of Education is advising parents that this week Friday, April 23rd, 2021, all schools will be closed and will resume with remote learning on Monday, April 26th, 2021.
“While the Department is mindful of the disruption that the Coronavirus Pandemic has had on the school year, and on learning for children, it was hoped that this Friday could be used to make up previously lost days. The Bermuda Union of Teachers respectfully declined our request. As a result, Friday’s school holiday will go ahead as scheduled.
“The Department has received concerns from parents about the schools being closed on Friday following an extended Easter break. These concerns are not lost on us and the Department will continue to work with the Bermuda Union of Teachers to see how any of the lost learning days can be regained before the end of the school term.”
Update April 22, 1.18pm: The Union has issued a comprehensive reply, it can be read in full here.
Why not just make up the days at the end of the school year in June?
I mean … everyone will still be home anyway. Just keep going until they’re caught up. Teachers get paid for the whole 12 months anyway, whether it’s larger paychecks each month for ten months with two months no pay, or smaller paychecks each month for the whole twelve months, they get paid!
Do they really NEED two months off this year? After being off for the last twelve?
Teachers get paid for 200 days out of the year for 35 hours per week. We do not get paid for Christmas, Easter, Summer or any mid term breaks. In addition we are required to attend staff meetings, graduations, parent conferencing and tutorials without any compensation. This also does not include all the time spent on research, lesson preparation or correcting papers.
This is incorrect. Teachers are paid for 200 working days. They are not paid for 12 months of the year.
Fri 23 April is a holiday?
It would have been the weekend for the Agricultural Exhibition that is why they are having Friday off. But under he circumstances and the amount of time the kids have lost and there being no exhibition they should be in school.
School is usually closed for the exhibition that day.
Another reason why the non unionized private schools comprehensively outperform the public schools at every level.
In what sense? My child goes public and is a prefect, honor student etc.. and represents her school for sports
The disparity in academic achievement in IGCSE’s is staggering.30 years ago The Berkeley Institute and Warwick Academy were on par when it came to examination results.Today the gap is immense.
Private schools “comprehensively outperform the public schools” because they cherry-pick their students creating an exclusive environment. Public schools take all children, of all walks of life, and are responsible for educating them ALL.
You have a point. However, an underperforming teacher in a private school is gone at the end of their contract if not sooner. In government schools there are ‘teachers’ who should never have been allowed near a classroom but the BUT will defend them [and the dues they pay each year] for ever.It’s the same in Bermuda at large, underperforming staff in the private sector are fired: the underperforming unionized bus driver, postal worker, W&E worker, not so much.
No one asked, or answered the pertinent question. Why?
With you only having 6 to 30 seats they don’t have to disclose why. Just know the next election the oba will still be the opposition and you still be here blogging hate, BLM remember that. If you believe otherwise it just reveals how dumb you are.
“The Bermuda Union of Teachers respectfully declined our request.“
Because one thing’s for sure: the BUT do not put the interests of students as a priority.
This is stupid! Why would you do this…exhibition? Why? These kids have lost enough already and classes have been cut shorter on zoom!
School is usually closed for the exhibition that day.