The prolonged closure of schools will impact students in the long run and upon entering the workforce.

The Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Premila Kumar said this while was addressing teachers at Balata College, Tavua, while inspecting the school’s COVID-19 safety facilities.

She also handed over personal protective equipment and agricultural tools from the Korean Embassy to the school yesterday.

“There’s more harm when we don’t open the school and if we open the school there will be a lot more good that can happen to a child; and if a child is kept away from school for a longer period, there is a huge learning loss and we cannot continue to do that,” she said.

“Just imagine what will happen when this particular person enters the workforce after many years and we won’t be able to recover the losses that has incurred as of now.

“We won’t be able to recover that loss, but the only thing we will be able to do is do our best now.”

She thanked the head of school, teachers and school management committee who had also been part of COVID-19 operations when schools were closed.

“Some of you were helping the Government and particularly the Ministry of Health in the vaccination data verification, education, some were also in contact tracing initially and even managing the quarantine centres.

“I always say our teachers are the COVID-warriors and you are extremely important when it comes to education delivery.”

Ms Kumar also expressed her thanks to the Korean Embassy while handing over to the school, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) resources and 30 sets of agricultural tools worth half a million dollars.

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