Delayed return to school and the impact upon parents
PARKWOOD – Parents can reach out to local community organisations or neighbours to ask for help.
With the return of schools being delayed by two weeks, many parents are concerned both for their children’s future and how they, as parents, will cope.
Irene Motaung, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and is the senior counsellor at The Family Life Centre based in Parkwood provided guidance to concerned parents.
The centre which has providing professional support to individuals, families and communities since 1949, among other services, contributes towards developing their communities and ultimately society.
As the pandemic continues, it seems that there may be a shift in the kind of care parents can use if they are used to having security in knowing that their children are safe and cared for at school.
“The pandemic has pushed most of us to live and work in unconventional ways. Since the emergence of the pandemic, business had to find ways to keep business open such as working remotely or from home,” said Motaung.
This is one of the creative ways which parents could negotiate with their respective employers until schools are reopened, she added. This of course would depend on the kind of work a parent did. Parents who could not negotiate remote working could utilise community-based aftercare programmes.
“These are times where we are pushed to utilise our community resources such as the unemployed youth or the grannies in our neighbourhoods who could be asked to provide safeguarding services. Or ask an unemployed family member who can help and earn a reasonable allowance, this way there is a creative win-win situation for all involved.”
Details: The Family Life Centre 011 788 4784.
