EXPOSITION SECOND DRAFT

“The rich bustle and excitement of an in-person learning environment is no more,” said Dr
Fazal Ali. This is just one of the many problems that the current generation of students encounter
due to the onslaught of the novel coronavirus. The topic of this presentation is “The Impact of
Covid-19 on Education in Trinidad”. I chose this topic since, myself being a current Form 6
student and aspiring teacher, found it very closely linked too the many rapid changes that
occurred in my life over the past few months. In this presentation, I aim at outlining some of the
changes that the MoE has implemented in response to the covid-19 virus to ensure the quality of
education being ‘dished-out’ to the nation’s children is of the best quality possible.

Due to the emergence of the coronavirus, the MoE was forced to temporarily close all schools
nationwide in order to protect the nation’s children. As a result, a new approach was needed in
order to continue the student’s learning process; the “Online Approach”. However, the “T&T
Archaic Education Act of 1966”, which governs how teachers teach and account for their
teaching, doesn’t allow for this new approach therefore making the transition to online learning
daunting for many students and teachers. Apart from the lack of accountability on the teacher’s
side, the problem of lack of devices has been very prevalent. Statistics show that approximately
65,000 students nationwide lack the necessary devices to access the teaching being done online.
To accommodate these students, the MoE proposed a pick-up, drop-off system where the
teachers are to provide printed materials for these students, and upon completion, are to be
returned to the teacher for feedback. Apart from being a suitable response, it adds stress to
teachers, students and parents. Also the MoE, TUTTA and ‘The Association of Principals of
Secondary Schools’ are negotiating with NGO’S to source devices for these students.

The lack of the necessary skills and training continue to be a menacing issue. Here, both
students and teachers alike, lack the skills necessary to sail themselves through this quick
switch. Therefore, according to Teaching Service Commission chairman Dr Fazal Ali, for this
move to succeed, it is wise to identify the tech savvy students and have them coach their fellow
schoolmates and teachers. However, even this move would be inadequate since the government
still needs to ensure that the teachers possess the prerequisite skills to push the education system
further into the future. As a supplementary step, the MoE released a new ‘Education
Management Information System’ and the ‘School Learning Management System’ to help
alleviate some of the stress imposed on teachers when it comes to distribution and management
of materials.

The primary source used in this research was in the form of an in person interview conducted
by TTT news on Mr. Ronald Mootoo, President of the Association of Public Secondary Schools,
approximately 2 months prior to the time of study. Here the interviewer, a journalist from TTT
media house, pressed a series of crucial questions to Mr. Mootoo pertaining to the impact of
covid-19 on the education sector of Trinidad and Tobago. The information presented during the
interview appeared to be in a well-tailored, organised manner such that anyone can understand
the main points being presented. Therefore, this source is indeed reliable due to its relevance to
the topic under investigation and its simplicity; however its validity comes into question due to a
slightly biased view presented by Mr. Mootoo since he is an agent of the Ministry of Education.
 Additionally, the first secondary source used was an article published by loop TT on the 28th of
August, 2020 entitled “MoE Announces Measures for Distance Learning in New Term”. In this
article, the author sought to cover a press conference hosted by the MoE on the changes done to
the education sector in response to covid-19. The article provided a quite accurate recount of the
proceedings laying it out in an easy to comprehend format. As a result, the source is clearly both
reliable and valid due to its timeliness, accuracy, relevance and lack of author biases. In addition,
the second secondary source chosen for this investigation was another article published by the
Guardian; a reputable newspaper company in Trinidad and Tobago, on 18th November 2020
entitled “60,000 Students Suffer”. This article, unlike the first, appeared to be opinion based on a
bygone event on the impact of covid on education in Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore, there are
author biases spread throughout the material which clouds its validity. However, it is indeed
relevant due to its coincidence with the topic under investigation and timeliness.

In conclusion, it is safe to say that covid-19 has significantly impacted the education sector of
Trinidad and Tobago. In doing so, it crippled the system and clouded its vision in providing
quality education to all Trinbagonian students. Also, it served as an eye-opener for the
government and by extension the entire population that drastic action is needed in upgrading the
nation’s education system so that it is not affected in the way it was with this covid-19 virus.