The island’s schools can transition to online education if needed, the Education Minister has confirmed.
Responding to a question in Tynwald, Daphne Caine, stated: “If necessary, the Department for Education, Sport and Culture possesses the capability to transition to online education delivery.
“The Department has all the necessary infrastructure, software, and technologies in place to accommodate remote education.”
Remote
Despite this, DESC is refining its approach following the COVID-19 review.
A draft remote education plan, developed with a select group of schools, outlines procedures for both short and long-term closures.
“This collaborative approach ensures that schools are consulted and their knowledge of their settings is utilised to adapt the plans for specific needs,” said Mrs Caine.
The plan will be shared with school leaders for further refinement before being finalised by the end of the 2025 autumn term.
Unions will also be consulted, and training resources will be provided to support schools.
Recourses
Mrs Caine said: “All school students and teachers have access to all the necessary software and equipment.
“They all have a Microsoft Office licence, which not only provides online access to learning software but also allows them to download this software free of charge.”
For students without devices, charitable funding is available to provide laptops with Wi-Fi or mobile data. Schools can also distribute their existing devices.
The Quality Assurance Framework ensures digital readiness, with an indicator stating “the curriculum is planned to develop the skills and attributes required for current and future digital generation.”
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