Across the country, thousands of primary and secondary school students returned to their classrooms on Monday.
Parents, guardians and their charges made a beeline to the nation’s 700-plus schools for the new school term after enjoying an extra week of vacation, courtesy of the Ministry of Education.
Shanice Thompson, a parent of a Standard 3 student of Tranquillity Government Primary School, said she appreciated the extra week.
“I feel good for the extra week. More time to get stuff together because we were a little back with certain stuff but everything worked out good.”
Another parent, Sharon Sirju, said she also made good use of the extra week.
“It give me enough time to get everything, you know, everything organised. Be more prepared. So it was grateful for the extra week.”
Ms. Sirju shared her best wishes for the students at the start of this new academic year.
“She’s going into Standard 3, so I hope, you know, all the best: good energy, positive vibes for the whole school and everything. And may all the children, may they be settled in fair.”
The Ministry of Education indicated that the one-week extension of the July–August vacation was approved by the Cabinet to better balance the academic calendar.