Majuro public schools are now scheduled to open next week Monday — nearly a month after Health authorities said they could open.
Meanwhile, although Majuro public schools have been late to open following the Covid outbreak in August, Ebeye public schools opened last week and all Majuro private schools started the week of September 19.
Rita Elementary school was the only Majuro public school to start, on September 19. But PSS headquarters told it to halt classes following that first day and claimed that parents complained that the school was not clean and also PSS said it required an inspection by the Ministry of Health and Human Services before it could open.
This was a surprise to RES school administration since both the RES PTA had given its approval to opening the school and MOHHS had issued the “all clear” to open schools on September 18. Health authorities said they never received a request from PSS to inspect RES, school officials told the Journal this week.
An announcement on V7AB Wednesday this week said Majuro public schools would start Monday October 10, over three weeks since Health authorities said they could resume classes.
The ad hoc nature of the PSS program was evident this week as MIHS started a phased orientation for each grade in the mornings beginning this past Monday, with each day for one grade. It is also requiring all students and teachers to wear masks, which does not follow the guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Human Services for schools to resume.
RES officials noted that a PSS HQ official came to the school Wednesday this week to go over a Covid check list, which focused on availability of hand sanitizer, masks and so on. The school had everything ready and was ready to start a month ago, said Principal Rodriguez Nakamura.