The decision to return to full presence in classrooms in 2022 will depend on the control of the covid-19 pandemic in Nicaragua, confirmed several sources from private schools. However, in the public educational system, no major changes are expected since the Ministry of Education (Mined) refused to close schools and implement virtual classes, even during the most critical periods of community transmission of the virus.
A parent from the Pureza de María School assured that, at the end of 2021, the study modality was open: face-to-face or bimodal depending on the pandemic circumstances. Likewise, at La Salle school, the information provided to parents is that students will continue their studies in a bimodal way, with face-to-face classes twice a week.
In the Nicaraguan Chinese School they maintained their presence at the preschool level, while primary and secondary school attended classes for a few days and others studied online. That could change in 2022, depending “on the health condition that is presenting itself. If there are improvements, possibly they will take the option of doing it in person completely, “said a collaborator from the school.
Another worker from the Teresian College assured that they have not yet formalized the study modality for 2022.
Meanwhile, at Colegio Centroamérica, parents said that for next year they announced that it remains bimodal.
At the end of April 2021, more than a dozen private schools in Managua and some departments of the country, suspended face-to-face classes and returned to online teaching, due to the report of infections in Nicaragua, which reached their collaborators, students and parents of family.
The schools reinforced prevention protocols and asked students and family members to report suspected cases of covid-19 to prevent the rest of the student body.
These measures were applied mainly in private schools, but not in public schools where teachers confirmed CONFIDENTIAL, that several teachers and students presented suspicious symptoms of covid-19, but the cases were hidden to maintain normality.
This was maintained despite the fact that the country went through its worst wave of contagion during August and September since the first case of covid-19 was known, on March 18, 2020. The Ministry of Health (Minsa) implicitly recognized, the increase in infections, and came to confirm more than a hundred daily cases. The increase in hospitalizations put the capacity of the hospitals to the test, as the population that cared for their relatives at home struggled to obtain an oxygen tank amid the shortage.
Agglomerations do not disappear
A teacher from Granada assured that at the end of the school year, agglomeration activities continue to take place that facilitate the spread of covid-19 in public schools: cantatas, Christmas festivals, folkloric acts and others.
“The graduations all normal. Here as nothing happens. People die and nothing happens ”, expressed saddened, the teacher. In Chontales, another teacher also reported that various activities are being promoted at the school where she works, including a Christmas carnival in which teachers are obliged to participate, but not students.
Another teacher, a member of the Nicaraguan Trade Union Unit (USMN), assured that during the enrollment period they confirmed that the classes will continue in person in the public system. “If they did not close when the pandemic was very strong, much less the other year (…) it is a fact that next year, all the teaching staff go to face-to-face classes,” said the teacher.
The teachers, under anonymity, have denounced that prevention measures are not applied in several schools, the use of a mask is not required, hand washing is not guaranteed due to the absence of soap and water and social distancing is not guaranteed because up to 40 students study in a single classroom.
According to data from the USMN, around 134 teachers died with suspicious symptoms of covid-19; of these, 78 deaths occurred during the first nine months of 2021. “We demand that the Government promptly suspend face-to-face classes and pass virtually, thus avoiding contagion and further spreading this terrible pandemic,” the USMN demanded in a published statement. in September and that was ignored by the Mined, under the command of the Ortega regime.
Minsa report recognizes a slight increase in covid-19 infections
Dismissal in political retaliation
In addition to the fear of contagion of covid-19, teachers are concerned that at the beginning of 2022 the Mined executed a wave of dismissals in retaliation for teachers who did not vote on November 7.
The USMN teacher expressed that there have been threats that will come a “series of consecutive dismissals.” “It is expected that next year there will be cuts in the teaching staff and above all, new cadres related to the Government of the day will enter,” the teacher warned.
He recalled that after the votes, in which Daniel Ortega was guaranteed a fourth consecutive term in power, without political competition, in several schools they checked the stained finger of teachers and those who did not have it, know that they are exposed to a dismissal arbitrary. This way of punishing teachers who disagree with the government discourse has been implemented by the Ortega regime since 2018, both in the education sector and in the medical union.
