CSEC and CAPE students back at school another day and trying to adjust to new conditions. “Being back at school is quite nerve-wracking because it is a very serious virus and at any moment you can catch it,” says Hena Scott, a fifth form student.

Another student, Tasway Davis shares similar concerns,” being with my friends and not being able to come into physical contact is a definite big challenge for my group of friends because we are the type of friends where we laugh and enjoy ourselves together and we like physical contact.”

In every secondary school across Jamaica, it’s a new normal – one in which students and educators must adapt, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while students prepare for exams.

Sessions have been reduced and timetables modified – but for some students, the virtual learning environment has to continue due to pre-existing health conditions. “So far we have identified 39 students who by virtue of medical issues will not be able to be apart of the face to face classes.

We have gone ahead and made arrangements with our teachers to cater to those students and that will be done,” says Acting Principal of Cedar Grove Academy, Lacey-Ann Blake.