Mixed feelings as more learners return to school this week
Schools opened their gates to grades R, 6 and 11 learners. Grade 7 and 12 learners are already back at school.
The Gauteng Department of Basic Education was confident about its Covid-19 preparations as more grades are set to return to school this week.
On Monday, schools opened their gates to grades R, 6 and 11 learners. Grade 7 and 12 learners are already back at school.
Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department had enough protective personal equipment for the learners set to return this week.
“We have actually planned for more grades, so we should pull through.
“Learners will be phased in through a rotational basis,” he said.
With the daily rotational plan, each grade would be at school for about three days a week rather than five.
He said this was to manage the number of pupils at schools and was a measure to ensure social distancing.
“We have about 64 000 teachers, of whom about a thousand applied for comorbidities. As such, we will appoint substitute teachers.”
According to the department, as of 30 June, 51 learners and 55 educators had contracted the Covid-19 virus at 109 schools in Pretoria.
The department reported that about 34 schools were closed, as of 30 June in Pretoria.
READ MORE: More grades to return in July
In the province, 176 schools were affected with 108 learners and 311 educators testing positive.
Some local parents, however, had mixed feelings on more children crowding schoolyards.
“On the one hand, I would like to keep my daughter at home because it’s safer, but I have also seen the need for her to interact with fellow students,” said Pretoria resident Siobhan Muller.
Local resident Daleen Barnard said although she knew the reopening was necessary for the learners’ academic progression because many children did not have access to online classes, she feared for her four-year-old daughter.
“She gets sick very quickly,” said Barnard.
“This winter has been one of the coldest ever and waking her up early in the morning would be a health risk I am not willing to take.
“Also when the kids are bigger, they understand social distancing and the precautionary measures they have to take, but it is difficult for the younger ones.
“The nursery schools, as well as the pre-primary schools, have gone to great measures to put all protocols in place. And I support this as many parents do not have the option of leaving their little ones at home. Going to school would be a safer environment rather than staying unattended at home.”
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She was also worried that while the children might not get sick themselves, they might carry the disease and infect their grandparents or put others at risk.
“Every family’s situation differs and each parent must decide what is best for them.”
For working mother of two, Ronel Davel, the reopening of schools came as “a bit of a relief”.
“They ask me to help with their schoolwork, while I also have to juggle my work and never have enough time. It is important for them to learn and the reopening will give them a chance to learn properly as my children did not get much assistance with the online learning,” said Davel.
“I feel the precautions they have put at schools are adequate to ensure their health safety.
“I am a parent of a grades 2 and 4 but if I had an older one, I feel I would also not be at ease with my children going back just like the many other parents.”
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