Mid-term break begins tomorrow for government high schools

(CMR) With no notice, the Ministry of Education has brought forward the dates when government primary and secondary schools would be taking their mid-term break by two weeks due to a shortage of teachers because of the recent COVID-19 outbreak across most public schools.

John Gray and Clifton Hunter High Schools are now scheduled to close on Thursday, 7 October. Primary schools on Grand Cayman will close for their mid-term break on Monday, 11 October 2021.

The Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC), primary schools on Grand Cayman and the Lighthouse School will close for their mid-term break on Monday, 11 October 2021.

“Over the past few weeks, a growing number of teachers have been required by Public Health to isolate. In fact, the teaching staff at John Gray and Clifton Hunter has now been reduced by 16 persons for one reason or another. By closing our schools a few days earlier than initially scheduled, we hope to reduce the risk of schools having insufficient staff to function effectively,” said Education Minister Juliana O-Connor-Connolly.

The Education Minister continued, “We in the Ministry of Education are cognizant of the fact that the closures, in particular, those that commence tomorrow will be somewhat inconvenient to a number of our parents, and for that, we sincerely apologize. Your understanding at this time is greatly appreciated.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee welcomed the early school closures.

“This course of action will certainly reduce the likely spread of the COVID 19 virus among our children, many of whom are unvaccinated, and lessen the need for in-school testing,” Dr. Lee stated. “I also wish to remind those with symptoms of concern to contact their usual healthcare provider or the Flu Hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 345-947-3077, or 345-925-6327 or [email protected]”

The Ministry of Education further announced that the start date for mid-term break for schools on the Sister Islands remains unchanged and begins on Thursday, 14 October.

Government schools on Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands will reopen on Monday, 25 October, as previously scheduled.

To learn more or to access the complete 2021/2022 academic school calendar, visit https://schools.edu.ky/Pages/Home.aspx.