Hospitalised pupils obtain top class teaching from dedicated staff
Starting at 9am shortly after breakfast and medication, teachers spend more than two hours in each ward before the school day ends at 2pm.
ALL children come into a teacher’s classroom with their own set of challenges.
Add to this health complications, and you have the task of the teachers at Ngwelezana Hospi Primary School.
Founded in 1988 and registered with the Department of Education in 1991, the school based at Ngwelezana Hospital provides a learning platform for admitted children from grades R to 7.
Starting at 9am shortly after breakfast and medication, teachers spend more than two hours in each ward before the school day ends at 2pm.
They circulate through each ward and patients who are able, sit on a chair at a desk and those who are not, are taught in bed.
Occupational Therapy Technician Gertrude Shamase, who has been at the school for several, years said big adjustments are necessary.
‘Teachers come from mainstream schools and are tasked with a different responsibility.
‘One has to consider the child’s family background and circumstances as well as being aware of their various conditions and needs and cater accordingly – while trying to teach.
‘It is, however, altogether rewarding when they are discharged and the principals call to commend us on the child’s development academically,’ Shamase said.
Hospital is home
For many of the children, hospital becomes home and teachers become family.
‘Some are from out the district and hardly get visitors, probably once a month if lucky.
‘The longest period a child has stayed at the hospital has been since June last year until now.
‘The eight-year-old who has osteoporosis has been doing exceptionally well at school.
‘Burn victims s and TB patients stay the longest and there are many orphans at the hospital.
‘1996 there was a woman who abandoned her two-year-old child after he was admitted.
‘One of the therapists formed such a special bond with the young boy that he adopted him and they moved to Canada. He is now at University.’ Shamase said.
Owing to the paediatric move to Lower Umfolozi War Memorial Regional Hospital in January, teachers work between both hospitals with Ngwelezana being their main office.
