The Ministry of Education has announced that the 2019 school terms will include seven Student Free Days set aside for teachers prior to the commencement of each school term.

According to the circular from the Permanent Secretary for Education Alison Burchell, these compulsory Student Free Days will enable Head Teachers, Principals and the teachers to organise continuing professional development sessions, prepare lesson plans and lesson notes, analyse examination results, adopt best practise in their respective subject areas and prepare the school year planner to capture curricula and extra-curricular activities.

Burchell also notes that with the Student Free Days before each official school term, students will begin classes on Mondays instead of Tuesday as has been the practise in the past.

The Ministry also requests parents to be aware of the dates and to prepare their children accordingly.

The first school term of 2019 will begin on the 14th of January.

For the teaching faculty, term one in 2019 will begin on the 9th of January.