redcrosscenterforthedeaf

It was back-to-school for thousands of students, but they encountered connectivity issues with the Ministry of Education’s online learning portal, on their first day.

As teachers and students attempted to sign in, they were greeted with a sign that read, “Undergoing maintenance. Thank you for being patient. We’re doing some work on the site and will be back shortly.”

As of three o’clock, the end of a school day, the ministry had not yet issued a notice or press release informing users of the connectivity issues.

Complaints flood in

Parents took to social media to vent their frustration, as they chronicled the agony of signing on their children for the first day of school.

Monica Sawyer said, “Mr. Minister, this ain’t working.”

Dedrie Hamilton who has three school-aged children said, ” I have three kids in school–grades 12, 10 and 5. No luck with MOE. It’s really frustrating.”

And Adreanna Martin said, “I been trying to get on, still nothing is happening.”

Teachers resort to Zoom

Anticipating issues with the new online portal, the Redcross Center for the Deaf used the Zoom platform to engage its students.

The school tested the platform last week for its students and decided to continue its use for the month of October.

A teacher who wanted to remain anonymous said her school did not get an update from the ministry on the use of the online virtual portal nor did teachers receive training on its use, so her school resorted to Zoom, a tried and true platform that has arisen in popularity since the onset of the pandemic.

Ministry says it will fix the problem

When CSJ Report called the ministry, a secretary said technicians were working to rectify the problem. She said her office has been bombarded with calls from concern parents were trying to log on but were unable to do so. The secretary said teachers have uploaded assignments to the portal but students are unable to access them due to an issue “on our side.” The issue is expected to be addressed by Thursday morning.

Five students from the 2020 Graduating Class of the Red Cross’ Centre for the Deaf are on their way to Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute.

The students graduated with Honours from the school on Friday, having used the public high school curriculum from the Ministry of Education.

Jevonny Allen received the Principal’s Award for the highest Grade Point Average, and Wilfrenique Belizaire, Waydesha Lewis, Patrick Pierre and Chinvia Saunders received awards for attaining Honour Roll status for their accumulative high school years, grades 10-12.

The graduates will enroll at the Bahamas Technical Vocational Institute and their goals are to become business owners at the conclusion of their studies at BTVI.

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, Frankie Campbell said the students’ success was yet another example of the abilities of the community of persons with disabilities and of the possibilities that can exist when access and inclusion for all is fortified, and when the focus is on a person’s abilities as opposed to any disability with which they may live.

Minister Campbell told the graduates, their teachers and parents, that the Government of The Bahamas remains committed to ensuring access and inclusion for all of its citizens. Access and inclusion was the common message delivered by Minister Campbell and Minister of Education Jeffrey Lloyd, during the Graduation Ceremony held on the school’s campus.

“I want to state the commitment of the Government of The Bahamas to providing access and inclusion for all Bahamians and so when the government speaks about free tuition to the University of The Bahamas, we are speaking to you; when the Government speaks about free tuition to BTVI (The Bahamas Technical Vocational Institute), we are talking about you (and) when the Government talks about $55Million available for persons who want to become entrepreneurs, we are also talking about you,” Minister Campbell said.

Minister Campbell applauded the parents of the graduates for the roles they played in the students’ success.

“We are here today because this group of parents decided that they would not do what some other parents have done in the past, and continue to do, which is to keep their children who live with a disability at home. These special parents saw in their children, even from infancy, all of their abilities as opposed to any disability. I applaud you for your efforts, for your guidance and support,” Minister Campbell said.