Pretoria private schools delay reopening, migrate online
“Around two-and-a-half million parents had to begin preparing their children for school. This would require a lot of movement as parents purchase uniforms and stationery, further spreading the virus.”
On Monday several private schools in Pretoria said they would migrate to online learning this week and delay their “physical” reopening.
This decision follows an announcement by the Department of Education’s announcement last week that schools reopening would be delayed for two weeks because of Covid-19.
Curro Holdings, which manages several schools in Pretoria, said on Tuesday that their schools would migrate to online learning and also delay their reopening.
This decision was made following a discussion on yesterday evening [Monday] with basic education director-general Hubert Mathanzima Mweli and representatives from the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa and Independent Schools Formal Alliance.
Curro’s campuses will now reopen on 1 February with heightened protocols in place.
“This date, however, depends on the current Covid-19 surge across the country,” said Curro spokesperson Marí Lategan.
While their doors would remain closed for in-contact learning, Lategan said the schools would proceed with online learning for grade 1 to 12 learners this week.
“Parents still have the option to either return their children to school on 1 February or to keep them at home where learning will continue online. Curro has a proven track record of a successful hybrid and remote learning model, ensuring that quality learning continues for all its learners.”
Another Pretoria-based private school, Hatfield Christian School, said it would also be migrating to online to get started with the academic calendar.
“We have delayed our campus opening until further details are made available,” said Hatfield Christian School administrative head Debbie Holloway.
“The health and safety of pupils, parents and staff are a top priority for us.
“Whilst we are saddened that we cannot convene on campus, we can give our pupils a solid online education. We learnt much during the course of last year and will be able to offer an even better offering to our 800 pupils this year,” she said.
“We feel particularly well-equipped to do this as we had already been successfully running an online school parallel to our campus school for the past 11 years.”
Meanwhile public schools, most which fall under the government’s management, would remain closed until 15 February.
Last year, schools were closed several times, which the education department said this affected public schools that had no digital equipment to move online.
During a press briefing last week, basic education deputy minister Dr Reginah Mhaule said the department was looking into ways they could help underdeveloped schools continue learning under the pandemic.
Speaking on the delay of schools earlier this week, Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said they would monitor the situation and wait for the experts for advice and then make an announcement on whether schools would return in two weeks or not.
“Our decisions will always be based on sound, scientifically-backed advice,” he said.
He said the delay to reopen schools was not about the schools’ capability to manage the virus, but it was more about minimising movement to reduce infections.
“Learners move daily between home and schools, thereby raising the chances that young people spread this virus,” he said.
“Around two-and-a-half million parents had to begin preparing their children for school. This would require a lot of movement as parents purchase uniforms and stationery, further spreading the virus and infecting people.”
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