ANGUILLA - unicef.org

ANGUILLA SUMMARY REPORT 1

Rapid Assessment of the Effectiveness of Communication Interventions for the Safe Reopening of Schools

ANGUILLA Summary Report

2 Rapid Assessment of the Effectiveness of Communication Interventions for the Safe Reopening of Schools

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on schooling across the Eastern Caribbean, as elsewhere. Educational establishments were closed for varying periods due to the pandemic.

At the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, schools reopened using various approaches. When the survey was conducted, students in Anguilla were taught through a mixture of face-to-face, blended learning, and for the minority, an online only approach. The shift system was also used widely at secondary school.

UNICEF supported the Ministry of Social Development, Education & Library with personal protective equipment (PPE) and communication messages to assist in the safe reopening of schools. Between November 2020 and February 2021, UNICEF commissioned a study in eight countries, including Anguilla, to assess the effectiveness of communication interventions aimed at allowing schools to reopen safely.

33 students (six primary and 27 secondary), 16 teachers (10 primary and six secondary) and 55 parents shared their views. Key informant interviews were also conducted with three principals (two primary and one secondary).

STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONSAmong primary school students, face-to-face was the most used form of teaching, while most secondary school students were engaged in a mixture of online and face-to-face classes. There was also some ‘shift’ schooling.

1. At both levels, the majority of students (over 80%) reported the presence of posters and billboards at their schools. >80%

Primary school Secondary school

RECALLED SEEING SAFETY POSTERS AND BILLBOARDS

AT SCHOOL

2. Messages about the importance of frequent handwashing were the best remembered. What messages do you remember most from the signage at your school?Message Primary school Secondary

school

ANG CBEAN ANG CBEAN

Frequent hand washing/sanitizing

100.0% 76.2% 89.5% 76.1%

Correct mask wearing 50.0% 61.8% 26.3% 71.2%

Physical distancing 50.0% 56.2% 42.1% 65.8%

3. Students generally felt that the signage helped them follow protocols.

Do you think the signage is useful in helping you to follow the protocols below? (% saying “Yes”)Protocols/safety measure


ANG CBEAN ANG CBEAN

Correct mask wearing 60.0% 92.6% 91.3% 85.6%

Frequent hand washing/Sanitizing

100.0% 94.2% N/A 82.3%

Physical distancing 100.0% 88.7% N/A 73.8%


4. In terms of UNICEF posters presented, again, those showing the correct way to wash your hands were the most familiar.

Image Primary schoolANG CARIBBEAN

1 – Take quick action if ill 0.0% 32.7%

2 – Correct mask wearing 0.0% 55.7%

3 – Physical distancing correctly 0.0% 23.4%

4 – Coughing or sneezing done correctly/Dispose of tissue 66.7% 58.2%

5 – Always wash your hands with soap and water 50.0% 43.9%

6 – Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands 16.7% 28.8%

7 – Washing your hands correctly 83.3% 58.4%

Image Secondary schoolANG CARIBBEAN

1 – Correct mask wearing 16.7% 55.5%

2 – Physical distancing correctly 4.2% 26.8%

3 - Coughing or sneezing done correctly/Dispose of tissue 41.7% 22.5%

4 – Always wash your hands with soap and water 29.2% 17.8%

5 – Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands 16.7% 14.1%

6 – Washing your hands correctly 75.0% 62.2%

5. For Anguilla the primary school students felt their school was doing a good job in providing information about COVID-19 and how to protect themselves; one of the areas for improvement was on monitoring that everyone was following the protocols. The majority of the secondary school students did not feel that their school was doing well on any of the areas.

My school provides clear information on how to protect myself and others from contracting COVID-19

My school does a good job in communicating guidelines/protocols for protecting ourselves at school

My school really helps us to understand these guidelines/protocols to protect us from COVID-19

My school properly monitors that everyone is following the guidelines/protocols

All guidelines/protocols at school are being properly followed by everyone

Teachers always correct students who are not following the protocols

Prim

ary

scho

ol

ANG

ANG

CARIBBEAN

CARIBBEAN

Seco

ndar

y sc

hool

66.7

%

66.7

%

50.0

%

0.0%

33.3

%

33.3

%

33.3

%

34.6

%

30.8

%

15.4

%

15.4

%

7.7%

76.8

%

68.8

%

68.6

%

24.1

%

70.7

%

61.2

%

87.7

%

84.5

%

82.8

%

30.3

%

86.4

%

74.9

%


6. However, most students thought that they themselves were able to follow the protocols effectively overall – around two thirds at both primary and secondary level.


33.3%YES

32.3%YES

66.7%NO

67.7%NO

34.6%YES

37.2%YES

65.4%NO

62.7%NO

ANG ANGCARIBBEAN CARIBBEAN

IN YOUR OPINION IS IT HARD TO FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS/RULES?

7. Student compliance with specific protocols was variable. “I cough/sneeze into my elbow” was the highest and “My temperature is checked” among the lowest.

COMPLETE COMPLIANCE WITH PROTOCOLS (% OF STUDENTS REPORTING ACTION OCCURS “ALL THE TIME”)Protocols/safety measure Primary school Secondary school

ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN

I wear a mask which covers my nose and mouth 20.0% 48.7% 16.7% 39.2%

My temperature is checked before entering school 0.0% 79.9% 16.7% 75.5%

My hand is sanitized before entering school 60.0% 86.3% 12.0% 78.4%

I wash my hands (e.g. before class and after class or after touching my face) 33.3% 54.2% 28.0% 35.9%

I physical distance from my friends while playing or in class 20.0% 31.6% 16.0% 17.4%

I use the hand sanitizer provided 40.0% 54.3% 21.7% 51.7%

My classroom desk and chair are cleaned 60.0% 57.0% 16.7% 57.7%

I see my school being cleaned throughout the day 16.7% 46.7% 44.0% 51.6%

I cough/sneeze into my elbow 83.3% 59.5% 80.0% 52.5%


8. Attending online classes at home was much less popular with secondary school students than with their primary counterparts (33% and 100%, respectively). The secondary students were particularly dissatisfied with downloading materials online.

PERCENTAGE SATISFACTION WITH PHYSICAL SCHOOLStatement Primary school Secondary school


Attending classes in the physical classroom 75.0% 90.9% 95.7% 87.7%

Interacting with teachers and other students in the physical classroom 83.3% 89.9% 90.9% 87.4%

Completing schoolwork/projects in the physical classroom 100.0% 92.8% 82.6% 87.0%

Attending online classes at home 100.0% 74.4% 33.3% 58.5%

Doing class activities online 100.0% 75.4% 62.5% 62.2%

Interacting with teachers and other students online 100.0% 74.5% 50.0% 60.1%

Completing schoolwork/projects online 100.0% 73.2% 62.5% 63.2%

Sending and receiving emails from teachers 100.0% 79.9% 50.0% 68.9%

Downloading materials online 100.0% 69.6% 16.7% 62.4%

Watching online videos provided by the school 100.0% 89.4% 85.7% 78.8%

9. Most students were satisfied with their access to, and knowledge of, technology.

PERCENTAGE SATISFACTION

Having access to Wi-Fi/Internet at home

Having access to an available computer, laptop or tablet to do your schoolwork or online classes at home

Knowing how to use the computer, laptop or tablet to do your schoolwork or online classes

Knowing how to use the online technology (e.g. Zoom, EdExel, Google Classroom) to do your school work or classes

100.

0%92

.0%

89.9

%91

.6%

100.

0%85

.7%

86.7

%82

.8%

100.

0%87

.5%

90.4

%89

.9%

100.

0%10

0.0%

88.5

%85

.4%Pr

imar

y sc

hool

ANG

ANG

CARIBBEAN

CARIBBEAN

Seco

ndar

y sc

hool


TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONSMany of the views and experiences reported by students were mirrored in the teachers’ answers.

1. Most were satisfied with the Ministry of Education (MOE) response.

TEACHER SATISFACTION WITH MOE (% WHO REPORTED THEY WERE SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED)Area assessed Primary school Secondary school


The MOE acted sufficiently quickly to assist teachers and students in their response 70% 32% 83% 27%

The MOE was appropriate/adequate in their communication and information about how teachers and students could respond 80% 36% 67% 33%

The types of communication and information used by the MOE were clear and easy to understand 60% 42% 67% 40%

I believe that the protocols/guidelines for schools, teachers and students were the most appropriate 80% 52% 50% 51%

I believe that the protocols/guidelines were sufficiently informed by consultations/input from teachers 56% 28% 50% 28%

2. 100% of primary teachers and 83% in secondary reported that signage was common across both primary and secondary schools in Anguilla.

3. Teacher recall of messages was variable.

WHAT MESSAGES DO YOU REMEMBER MOST FROM SIGNAGE AT YOUR SCHOOL?

FREQUENT HANDWASHING/SANITIZING CORRECT MASK WEARING PHYSICAL DISTANCING

ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN80.0% 89.9% 33.3% 67.6% 33.3% 71.6%

4. For primary teachers, the UNICEF graphic on “correct hand washing” was the most recognised, followed by “coughing and sneezing correctly”.

RECOGNITION OF IMAGES

ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN

72.7% 79.3% 63.6% 52.9% 9.1% 35.5%


ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN ANG CARIBBEAN

54.5% 61.4% 18.2% 38.6% 27.3% 79.3%

ANG CARIBBEAN

9.1% 29.8%

5. Only 1/3 of the teachers preferred teaching online and the biggest concern for teachers was finishing the curriculum.

GENERAL TEACHER PERCEPTIONS

CARIBBEAN

23.5%54.7%

64.3%

47.8%

33.3%

ANG

40.0%

77.8%

66.7%

I prefer to stay home to do my classes online

I think my students are struggling in the online environment

Despite challenges the pupils are still getting a good standard of education

I am worried about finishing the curriculum


PARENTS’ VIEWSWhile data analysis was not done for parents for individual countries, the aggregate findings for the survey completed by the 728 parents across the 8 countries revealed some patterns:

1. Parents generally preferred face-to face teaching2. One of their biggest concerns was not having enough flexibility to support their children while they were online3. They generally approved of the school’s efforts to communicate the guidelines and protocols

All Parents

School update on COVID-19 measures

A NOTE ON SCHOOL PRINCIPALSThere were several issues voiced by principals. They were most concerned with the uncertainty of the learning environment under the pandemic and whether there was sufficient access to devices, high-speed Internet and training to operate in such an environment. There were also worries about the level of student compliance with protocols and guidelines.

Some tables have been edited to show data highlights.

UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean AreaFirst Floor, UN House, Marine Gardens, Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados Tel: (246) 467 6000 | Email: [email protected] Website: www.unicef.org/easterncaribbean | www.youtube.com/UNICEFeastcaribbean

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ANGUILLA - unicef.org