HONOLULU — The state Department of Education does not have enough educators to meet a growing demand for distance learning.
Nearly 150 students between kindergarten through eighth grade are on a waiting list to receive remote instruction, school officials said on Thursday.
About 460 students, or 1% to 3% of the entire public-school population, are already involved in the statewide distance-learning program.
School officials determine students’ eligibility for the program on a case-by-case basis.
“If they find that there is a desire from the family for distance learning and we believe that this child can be successful, then they get on this waitlist,” said DOE Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami.
Unebasami said the public-school system is “probably seeing an increase” in interest due to the delta variant of the novel coronavirus. The DOE is now searching for teachers to fill the gap.
State Sen. Michelle N. Kidani voiced her displeasure with the situation.
“Those who were doing well in distance learning should have been allowed to continue if that was their wish,” she said. “To expect every student to be back in a classroom and not being able to really social distance, I don’t know what you guys were thinking.”
Source: The Garden Island
Be First to Comment