Education may be the most important sector in any society as everything absorbed by the sponge-like minds of children is released when squeezed by the pressures of adult life.
Kersten College is a private school that aims to curate every minutiae of a child’s development by offering an alternative to the centrally planned government system. Despite their contrasting numbers and approach, the state-imposed regulations adopted in response to the health panic have proven that the stresses parents and children have faced in the last 11 months are universal.
The private school is one of many that are not subject to the authority of the Gauteng Department of Education. Even so, Director of Kersten College, Elly Balloch took the socially responsible decision to close the school in January, giving some parents flashbacks to the initial lockdown. Amelia Billings recalls those early ‘anxious’ days, saying, “It was a great struggle as everything happened so fast that one was not able to prepare appropriately”.
Should any further disruptions become necessary, some parents have already become used to taking on multiple tasks. “We had to assign roles between ourselves as parents to teach our little one during the week, and we also had to start taking personal lessons on how to become a better teacher for the grade our child was in,” said parent, Tobi Ogundare.
Academics are only a piece of a child’s development as their personal interactions are vital steps in their emotional and social development. All parents, bar none, noticed a dramatic drop in their child’s happiness and positivity. Most adults were in the same boat, but new perspectives did develop. “With some time I adjusted and started to appreciate the fact that I and my family were safe and that I got to spend more time with them,” said Niaz Naidoo.
The school will now gear up for what they hope will be an uninterrupted stretch that resembles some sense of normality. Elly will do so knowing she has the full support of the parents she has been putting first for the last 11 months. Sven Hering is one of may parents who praised Elly, saying, “Without all the teachers’ commitment and hard work, it wouldn’t have been that successful”.
Here is what parents had to say:
Sven Hering
“This shows us that the interaction between children is so very important, besides the usual school work.”
Tobi Ogundare
“We emphatically join the race to reduce the workload for the front liners –the doctors, nurses and trauma unit staff.”
Amelia Billings
“My daughter felt isolated within her own home and asked if there was ever a chance of everything going back to normal.”
Natallie Sass
“The 3-day and 2-day system works cause it’s ensured that there is social distancing and kids are still getting their education.”
Niaz Naidoo
“A thought must be given to those parents and scholars who do not have facilities, which makes it even harder.”
