The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in a press release on
Tuesday June 23, 2020, provided travel guidelines for the relocation of teachers and pupils that are to take pending public examinations.
MBSSE emphasized that teachers and pupils that are in examination classes of National Primary School Examination (NPSE), Basic Education Certificate Education (BECE), and West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) who had traveled away from their locations of learning and teaching during the school closure and inter-district travel restrictions imposed by the National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) should return to their habitual locations.
The Ministry in their statement said that the officially facilitated travels would take place on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June, 2020.
“Only pupils registered to take the exams as per lists provided by schools to WAEC and traveling to resume classes are eligible to travel. Pupils and their parents/guardians are encouraged to pre-register at the Education Offices in the Districts at 3:00pm on Thursday 25 June, 2020. Pupils who encounter difficulties to register but are candidates of the exams as certified by lists provided by WAEC will be allowed to travel. Those with special needs are strongly encouraged to indicate this at time of registration,” MBSSE said in a statement.
The Ministry advised that all expected travelers should report at the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC) Bus Depots in each District Headquarters town by 10:00 am for prompt departure, and also in addition final drop-off points would also be at the same locations in each District.
MBSSE warned that it is the responsibility of parent/guardian to facilitate pick-up and drop-off of their children/wards from the bus terminals. Also MBSSE encourage parents/guardians to provide contact telephone numbers during the registration that would be called to inform them about the travel itinerary and other details about their children/wards.
The Ministry also cited that all teachers who have PIN codes should have such information at hand for eligibility to board the busses: “teachers without PIN codes are required to pre-register at 3:00 pm on Thursday 25th June, 2020, for verification”.
“All pupils and teachers are required to present and travel with official identification record. All buses will strictly observe COVID -19 guidelines prior to boarding and during the journey, including: hand washing or use of sanitizer; checking of temperature for fever; use of face masks (this will be provided for all travelers) and maintenance of enhanced social distancing measures inside of the buses. Pupils and teachers with fever or any other COVID-19 related symptoms will not be allowed to travel on the buses,” MBSSE said.
According to the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education each bus would have a supervisor from the MBSSE Emergency Response Team to ensure that all COVID-19 and other child safety measures are properly followed during the course of the journey.
MBSSE assured the public that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation/COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre and education partners would continue to organize, coordinate and monitor all school reopening readiness activities to ensure the maximum safety of pupils and teachers.
By George M.O. Williams
26/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7854