SOME high school students, especially from Tinian, are not happy with the changes to their online schedule that were implemented because of the recent Covid-19 community spread, Youth Sen. Easton Dela Cruz said in a letter to acting Commissioner Eric Magofna.
Magofna, for his part, assured Dela Cruz that the online schedules were “designed to maximize synchronous instructional time with teachers,” and were the product of a compromise among Saipan, Tinian and Rota school administrators.
The Public School System transitioned to full remote learning beginning Nov. 1, 2021 after a directive from Gov. Ralph DLG Torres.
Dela Cruz, in a letter to Magofna dated Nov. 3, said, “The members of the 18th CNMI Youth Congress and myself have been getting concerns about online class schedule for the high school level. Many of our constituents have come forward to say that the current schedule conflicts with lunch, chores, and other home matters. Although the concern is with students of various public high schools, the majority of the concerns we have been receiving have come from high school students in Tinian.”
A senior at Marianas High School, Dela Cruz said the students “claim that there has been a change with their class schedule after the first two days of online classes and are concerned because they are used to going to class first thing in the morning, proper meal schedules, and that the schedule change affects their motivation levels.”
He said, “This particular concern has affected our peers tremendously and are asking for you and your leadership to come to a solution that will both keep our peers safe as well as maintain a small degree of normalcy despite the times we are in now.”
In response to the letter, Magofna said, “The remote learning schedule for all PSS elementary, middle, and high schools was carefully decided upon a collective compromise among school administrators.”
He said to avoid connectivity issues and ensure optimum learning experiences, the schedules were set by school administrators.
“The schedules allow students of all grade levels to maximize their synchronous instructional time with their teachers,” he added.
He said PSS appreciates the Youth Congress for ensuring that “the voices of our youths are heard.”
Magofna added, “We want to ensure the youth of our community that the health and safety of students remain our top priority. Any decision made regarding the best interest of students has always involved and will always involve key stakeholders.”
He said PSS may reopen its schools on Nov. 15.
On Monday, parents were notified about a Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.-PSS Stakeholders Parent Teacher Student Association meeting via videoconference set for 5 p.m. on the same day.
The notice encouraged all parents to attend so they could get more information about the Covid-19 vaccine for eligible students and ask any questions or share concerns they might have.
Easton Dela Cruz
