Smooth return for grade 7s at Pta schools
Most of the schools had close to 90% attendance of learners.
Several schools in Pretoria reported a smooth phasing in of grade 7 learners again after a two-week closure due to a rapid rise in Covid-19 positive cases.
Glenstantia Primary School principal Hennie Pretorius said teachers and learners were happy to resume classes and continue with teaching and learning.
The attendance at the school stood at 85% with only learners with comorbidities and a few, whose parents were anxious, were not at school, Pretorius said.
“Our learners have been working at home right throughout the lockdown period with the teachers providing work for them. Currently covering all the work that is required, we are comfortable that our learners and staff will have completed the grade 7 curriculum by the end of the year.”
Lynnwood Ridge Primary School Chairperson of the SGB Thabang Chiloane said the school geared up to continue with curriculum work to prepare grade 7 learners for high school in 2021.
“There is an 84% attendance of learners at school. We have other learners that are enrolled for Lockdown Learning, where the school continues to provide school work on D6 Communicator. The children do the schoolwork at home under the supervision of their parents/guardians.
“Staff are available to teach and to ensure physical distancing and other safety protocols at all times. The learners quickly adjusted to the ‘new normal’ and have been extremely responsible and we are particularly proud of how they have embraced safety measures and focused on their learning.”
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Many reported not having any challenges on the first day back. This was attributed to the group’s previous exposure to learning during Covid-19 times.
“It felt really easy as the grade 7 learners were already used to the safety protocols of entry to the school and within the school itself. Both staff and learners quickly settled into the work for the day,” Chiloane said.
With the curriculum trimmed to fit the shorted school calendar, the schools were confident that they would have enough time to finish the work in time.
“The teachers and learners are working conscientiously to cover the necessary work. We have every expectation of completing the work timeously and ensuring that the grade 7s will go to high school well-prepared.”
Koos Matli Primary School deputy principal Given Mhlanga said about 90% of the school attended the first day.
“Things were normal, if we can say that, because we had operated before in such an environment, our learners have adapted to the new way of things. They wear masks, sanitise and our teachers constantly check if learners are abiding to the social distancing rules.”
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Mhlanga said he hoped that the learners and teachers would have enough time to finish the school curriculum.
“I must say that we are following the departments instructions with the curriculum and can only hope that we finish the work, but it is still early to say.”
This after, last month President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the closure of schools for four weeks, following calls from teacher unions for school to close during the Covid-19 peak.
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