Some Centreville residents struggle to face the challenges of giving their children access to online learning.
Centreville community activist Shyan Chipman, 47, said that 6 out of 10 parents cannot facilitate their kids attending virtual classes.
Chipman said that many persons are out of work and sometimes cannot afford to keep the light on, much less afford internet service and tablets.
“Centreville is a needy neighbourhood,” said Chipman, “There are some amazing people who live here, but most people live on minimum wage.”
Valdarine Kemp, a 6th-grade teacher at Eva Hilton primary school, said she realizes that not all homes are alike.
Kemp said that she and other teachers had solicited devices for the less fortunate students before the Ministry of Education’s announcement that all students in need would be provided with a tablet.
She also said that they followed up to determine why they were not present in classes when they were absent.
According to Kemp, when the classes were in person, attendance was nearly 100 per cent all the time, but now attendance has dropped to 25 of 35 students in class sometimes.
“Face to face is better,” said Kemp, “We’re not sure if the students are even present or not; they log onto the computer and use another device to chat with their friends or go play in the streets and get into trouble.”
Edlyn Knowles, 34, of John Chipman Street, said that although she is a working mother, she makes sure that her children are in classes and not out playing.
Knowles said she ensures her daughters have the necessary tools to participate in online learning because their education is essential.
“I leave my girls with my mom when I have to go to work, and I make sure that someone can assist them with any difficulties they have,” said Knowles.
Her two daughters, enrolled at Nassau Christian Academy, attend virtual classes daily, dressed in full uniforms.
Anischa Fernander, 36, of Hospital Lane, said that she ensures her son gets his education.
She added that there is no excuse for any parent not to ensure their child does so despite the pandemic.
“At my son’s school, they encouraged parents who did not have access to the virtual platform or had problems with connectivity to pick up packets with all the material that the children would cover on the virtual platform,” Fernander said.
Fernander said, “It’s really up to the individual to decide what is important.”
She said parents facing hard times should not use that as an excuse.
Juan Cartwright, 45, of John Chipman Street, shares similar sentiments with Fernander.
Cartwright said it is a tough job trying to help everyone in the area.
“Some of our people want everything handed to them, and even when they get it, they still complain,” said Cartwright.
Assistant Supt of Police Sheena Cooper said that many children claimed they did not have tablets or access to the internet when she would speak to them.
Assistant Supt Cooper said that there are children who have the technology in some instances but choose not to participate, while some children do not have the means.
She said there are also technical issues or even a lack of electricity in some cases.
“My sister teaches at Eva Hilton, and she complains about the online platform too. There are hiccups,” Assistant Supt Cooper said.
Lonis Augustave, 35, of John Chipman Street, said online learning is good, but there are challenges that many people face that keep them from letting their kids take part.
“Plenty people ain’ doin’ it – especially ’round here,” Augustave said.
Augustave’s daughter, 6-year-old Laniyah – a student at Nassau Christian Academy, was with him during the 10 am interview.
She asked to go and ride on her bicycle.
When asked why she was not attending class, she said she had misplaced her tablet at her grandmother’s house after an aunt had used it to take pictures of rainbows.
“I miss class. I would be in class if I didn’t lose my tablet,” said Laniyah. Augustave said he is working towards purchasing a new tablet for his daughter.
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