Having successfully passed the joint ocular inspection conducted by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), MIS is set to start its face to face classes on June 30 for Academic Year 2020-2021 after the orientation and dry run regarding the implementation of the health protocols and preventive measures against COVID-19 on June 29 to be observed by MEYS and MoH.
However, due to the continuing threats and challenges brought about by the unforeseen enemy not only in the host country, Timor-Leste but the entire world, MIS shall reopen its classes by adapting the "NEW NORMAL" for schools and the health protocols set by MEYS and MoH. Further preventive measures will be put into place and shall be strictly implemented and observed to secure and ensure the safety, health, and well-being of the learners, teachers, and other school personnel who are all regarded to be vulnerable to be easily affected by the said virus.
Under the "NEW NORMAL" for MIS, learners, teachers, other school personnel, parents, and guests shall strictly observe the following:
1. Mandatory wearing of face masks upon entry and while inside the school premises. MIS will provide a face shield to all learners, teachers, and staff.
2. Everyone must subject themselves to mandatory temperature check upon entry at the designated entrance gate. Students, workforces, parents, and visitors whose temperature is above 37.5 0C will be sent home or will not be permitted to enter the school premises. Those who show any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, colds, cough etc.) are encouraged to stay at home or better yet consult their physician.
3. Upon entry, hand washing for at least 20 seconds is also mandatory. Flowing water and hand soap were provided at the hand washing areas located at the entrance, in front of each classroom, rest rooms and at the exit area.
4. Physical distancing must be observed and maintained at all times while at the school premises and inside the classrooms. Classrooms were already arranged to ensure strict compliance on this matter. Floor plans for the physical distancing were provided for the guidance of everyone.
5. Regular cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched areas such as doorknobs, tables, chairs, etc. will be done by the school personnel who are in charge on a daily and weekly basis.
6. Observe other health protocols provided by MEYS, MoH, and the World Health Organization (WHO) such as coughing etiquette, waste disposal, greeting other people, etc. Posters and other printed information on COVID-19 were provided on the designated posting areas for additional guidance.
As part of the new normal for MIS, and taking into consideration the risk involved in wearing face masks at a longer period of time especially for the young learners and also to strictly comply, observe and maintain the protocol on physical distancing by not bringing all learners together at once and as mandated by MEYS, below are the temporary class schedules for A.Y. 2020-2021. The regular class schedules will resume once the MEYS gives their approval.
1. MORNING CLASSES: Kindergarten 1 and Grades 1-6 (7:40-12:00)
2. AFTERNOON CLASSES: Kindergarten 2 and Grades 7-12 (1:00-5:20)
Note: Grade 12 has a special class schedule for Applied Economics and Fundamentals of Accountancy, Business & Management 1
While there are no available vaccines against COVID-19, threats or risks to the safety, health, and well-being of everyone in schools will continue. Hence, under this new normal, all scheduled school-wide extra-curricular activities and social gatherings of MIS will also be cancelled until further notice and the rest will be done per grade levels in their respective classrooms. The safety, health, and well-being of everyone are MIS's top priorities as it ensures the continuation of learning in this difficult time.
As the need arises and in order to ensure that the education of learners will not be disrupted due to the continuing threats of the worldwide pandemic, MIS will adapt blended and/or online learning. For the past weeks, MIS teachers had been attending online seminars/webinars provided by various stakeholders in the Philippines in preparation for the start of classes on August 29, 2020 using the said modes of teaching and learning process.
MIS and all schools in the country had been closed for more than two (2) months after the government declared a month of state of emergency on March 28, 2020 and was subsequently extended on April 27, May 27, and ended on the June 26.
