We also asked the Chief Education Officer for her thoughts on how high schools may now handle the graduation ceremonies for its students, in light of the amendment to the State of Emergency regulations which now allow for gatherings of 100 people.
That change took effect today, and so, we wondered if the schools may adjust the scale of their plans for graduation.
Dr. Babb told us that the schools may still follow through with their plans for virtual graduation ceremonies:
Dr. Carol Babb - Chief Education Officer
"Well, the schools are - it's up to them if they want to have face-to-face graduation. We advised them to follow the regulations, given to us by the National Oversight Committee. So, it means now that they can have graduation with up to a hundred persons, but they must social distance.
"That is the advice that we had been giving them before now, but now, since yesterday, we learned that it can be extended to 100 persons, they can have real graduation, if they don't want to have a virtual one. But, they must be not more than 100 persons, and they must do social distancing."
Reporter
"Some schools have opted to do virtual graduations?"
Dr. Carol Babb
"Yes, I think St. Catherines is having their virtual graduation on Saturday. Independence High is having virtual graduation, and about 2 or 3 other schools have had virtual graduations already. I don't know of any schools, up to this point in time, that is actually having the normal graduation, as we are accustomed to."
And on the subject of graduations, earlier in the weals we told you about the Graduation at Delisle Academy in Dangriga. The fees are high - 200 dollars for kids who want to do a full virtual graduation and 85 dollars for those wanting an economy package where they get two pieces of paper: a transcript and a diploma paper without the case. That's very expensive for 85 dollars and two days ago the Minister of Education told us he doesn't support it one bit in times like these. He told us the school is fleecing the parents and they would be wise not to pay it. Still, these things mean a whole lot to families and we understand that a super majority of the students paid for the graduation which was held this afternoon.
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