09 Sep 2020

Day care learners are said to be responding positively to the COVID-19 protocols.

In an interview with BOPA on September 8, a teacher at Matenge day care centre in the North East District, Ms Kebame Nalebomo stated that the children exceeded their expectations in terms of complying with the health protocols.

She said the little ones listened attentively when the teachers explained the regulations and  they followed them to the latter.

She explained that some of their learners were as young as three years of age but responded well to the changes.

Ms Nalebomo highlighted that the day care centre reopened on September 1 following its closure in March.

She said it was remarkable to see how the children had adapted well to the new normal, adding that this was an indication that the little ones had been adhering to the protocols even when the school was on a break.

The school teacher said toddlers were mentally wired in a manner that they honoured and executed every instruction they received from authority hence their ability to adapt well to COVID-19 protocols.

She further noted that in order to adhere to social distancing, VDC who were the custodians of the preschool trimmed the number of learners.

For her part, VDC secretary Ms Gaabadzo Tabona said the school had 76 learners before lockdown but numbers were cut down to 46 to allow for social distancing.

She stated that when the schools went into a break, VDC took a decision to renovate the school so as to comply with the COVID-19 regulations.

She highlighted that Ministry of Health and Wellness officials provided them with specifications that were to be implemented in the school premises which they complied with.

Ms Tabona said they installed wash basins, marked classrooms floors and the school yard and converted one of the rooms into a sick bay.

She stated that environmental health specialists inspected the school and gave them approval to reopen as it adhered to all protocols.

The secretary indicated that VDC held discussions with parents and teachers before the preschool reopened, requesting for cooperation to ensure regulations were followed.

She said the aim of the VDC was to extend their daycare centre in future so that it met modern day standards and to equip it with ICT tools.

She highlighted that Matenge day care centre had the potential to attract clients from as far as Makaleng and Sebina villages due to its proximity to the two major villages. ENDS