23 Jul 2020

Some Maun pre-school principals have called on the government to consider extending the wage subsidy during these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although they appreciated government’s efforts to cushion them to retain employees for the months of April, May and June, they said they were still struggling to recover, hence the call for its extension.

They made their plea during recent meetings with Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile, who was on a mission to appreciate challenges faced by pre-schools in his constituency, their readiness to adhere to COVID-19 protocols and to share ideas on how best they could improve their operations. 

They said indeed they benefitted from the COVID-19 wage subsidy.  

The principals, however,  said they were currently not making profits due to reduction in enrollment, as some parents were struggling to pay school fees, yet they were expected to pay utilities, staff salaries, feed the children and pay tax, among others.

Nabokenya preschool principal, Ms Kgalalelo Lwanga said the future of their businesses was bleak as they were experiencing difficulties in their operations. 

If the situation does not improve, she said they might be forced to relieve some of the employees of their services.

Nabokenya pre-school, she said, had an enrolment of 90 children, 13 staff members, but after extreme social distancing, only 39 children returned. 

Ms Lwanga suspected that the reduction in number could be a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as some parents lost their jobs.

She said they had put the COVID-19 protocols in place, citing installation of hand washing basins at the gate, maintaining a register, checking temperatures, wearing of masks, disinfecting classrooms, furniture and walls frequently and also observing social distancing in classrooms.

Ms Lwanga also acknowledged that they had an active Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), which she said was supportive. 

Through PTA, she said parents managed to contribute some money to the school to increase cleaning materials including sanitisers.

She also stated that they enjoyed a smooth working relationship with the council through the Social Community Development Office, as officials visited the school regularly to appreciate compliance and their operations.

At Maun Kindergarten preschool principal, Ms Devi Bhanot shared the sentiments that reduction in the number of children was worrisome, noting that they used to have 140 and now they had 60 children. 

Most of the classrooms, she said, were idle although they divided the children into four classes in an effort to observe social distancing.

She appreciated that the children were adapting to the new normal, as they were well informed about the health and safety measures such as washing of hands regularly and wearing of masks.

For his part, Mr Kekgonegile hailed pre-schools for doing their best to comply with the COVID-19 protocols, adding that dealing with small children was not an easy task. 

He advised schools to come up with contingency plans to cater for children who had not reported back to schools. 

He appreciated that some could have not returned due to COVID-19 effects, but he was optimistic that they would come back as the pandemic stabilised. 

He also appreciated that the schools had an effective partnership with parents, adding that it was paramount for parents to participate in their children’s education. 

He said that the education policy also dictated that schools should have active PTAs. ends