08 Jun 2020

Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Thapelo Matsheka has expressed satisfaction at the level of adherence to COVID -19 protocols in Lobatse schools.

Dr Matsheka, who is also the area Member of Parliament toured all government schools in the town following their partial reopening recently.

Schools had closed for more than two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister said he was satisfied that there was social distancing in classrooms, wearing of face masks, taking of body temperatures and hand washing or sanitising facilities in school premises.

School heads told the minister that things had gone well, except for minor hitches, following return of the first batch of learners to classroom last Tuesday.

Lobatse Senior Secondary School head, Mr Patrick Phiri said all their form five pupils returned to school this week

He said they had engaged temporary staff to frequently clean desks and doors.

“We have selected big classrooms that can accommodate 30 to 35 learners sitting one meter apart,” he said.

Mr Phiri stated that they would operate in shifts when the form four pupils return to continue adhering to social distancing.

“The form fives will come to school in the mornings up to one o’clock. The form fours will arrive at 11am and eat lunch. After lunch the form fives will leave and the form fours will use the same classrooms,” said Mr Phiri.

Mr Phiri further said there was enough hostel space for boarding learners.

The school head however pointed that their major challenge was the thermometers which sometimes malfunction.

Itireleng Junior Secondary School head Mr Collins Mudadi said they had started very well.

“We have been managing to take the temperature of learners and any person who visited the school since the reopening on Tuesday. By 7am our learners are all in for morning study,” he said.

He said they had installed four new hand-washing points in the school, noting that they provided water, soap and disposable hand towels at their washing points.

The head teacher of Peleng West Primary School, Ms Goitsemang Molapong said everything was going well at the school except for water challenges.

Dr Matsheka donated face masks to all schools in the town to help protect learners against the coronavirus. Ends