All Saints Secondary students sent home by Ministry of Education after teachers stage protest Tuesday morning

Schools across Antigua and Barbuda opened for face-to-face instruction for the first time on Monday, October 18, and by today, a number of issues had already arisen.

REAL News was reliably informed that the majority of teachers at the All Saints Secondary School did not show up for work on Tuesday morning, October 19.

This was apparently because the educators were informed that they cannot take their children to school with them.

Teachers and other parents have been complaining that, with the lower grades at the primary level still limited to online learning, they have no one at home to supervise their own children who are taking online classes.

After the upper forms showed up for school this morning and found few teachers present – reportedly only three showed up – the Ministry of Education directed that the students to be sent back home.

Parents say they are still furious – especially as the early closing required their children to make their way back home, dozens of them by public transportation.