20 Jul 2021

It is Friday, July 16. 

A chilly morning breeze sweeps across Nhake Primary School but the pupils look unperturbed.

 It is the least of their worries. Their minds are elsewhere.

Today is the last day of school. 

That is what seems to be preoccupying their minds now. 

In fact, it was only yesterday that they returned from home but barely a month and half in class, they are now told to go back home again.

But what choice do they have if not to heed President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s proclamation that schools should close between July 16 and August 17 to contain COVID-19 which is spreading at an alarming rate and claiming more lives.

Again, the writing was already on the wall that teachers and learners alike were becoming more vulnerable to COVID-19. 

In addition, teachers’ unions were also agitated, pleading with government to close schools fearing for a crisis in the education sector.

“On a daily basis we are becoming a COVID-19 statistic. Bereavement is now common as the death toll from the pandemic keeps on rising,” President Masisi had said, ordering closure of schools.

However, for Director of Basic Education in the Kgalagadi District, Ms Maipelo Kesenye it is not all doom and gloom. Pupils will continue learning from home.

“We made sure that learners were given study notes and assignment packages to learn while they are away from school. 

They can also access revision papers online with the links we provided them,” said Ms Kesenye in an interview.

She advised parents of completing pupils to reduce their home chores to allow them time for study. 

“They must treat them as if they are still in school, allow them to follow study timetables and monitor them to ensure that assignments are completed on time,” she added.

She further encouraged parents to limit their children’s play time. 

“If the parents are not able to assist their children with school work, they must seek help,” she advised.

Ms Kesenye said after COVID-19 disrupted the school calendar last year, performance results were nonetheless good. 

“The pandemic is unpredictable, and we need to learn from our past experience and implement better strategies,” she added,

She said the education system must adapt to the new normal and transform the learning process to weather disruptions from COVID-19. 

It was also critical, Ms Kesenye said, that teachers complete the syllabus well in time and to give pupils more practice so that when examination time comes, the pupils would be ready.

Ms Kesenye also saw the closure of schools as an opportunity for families to bond and that everyone adhered to COVID-19 health protocols. 

“This school vacation is not a normal one, completing pupils must prepare well because when schools reopen there will be mock exams,” she said.

Schools in the Kgalagadi District had a fair share of COVID-19 related deaths. 

Two teachers and six non-teaching staff have since succumbed to the pandemic.

Ms Kesenye said they had so far recorded about 1 000 positive cases among pupils. 

“The highest number recorded in a school was at Matsha Senior Secondary School, which recorded 136 positive cases. For primary schools, Lokgwabe Primary recorded 23 positive cases,” Ms Kesenye noted.

With eyes on the ball, Nhake Primary School Standard 6 teacher, Mr Ndjinovandu Tjihumino hads undertaken to continue assisting pupils online during the long break. 

He would communicate with parents via WhatsApp group to reach out to learners.

Mr Oaitse Letshoo, a Standard 7 teacher, said these were challenging times  that necessitated new teaching approaches. 

“We already have a WhatsApp group which I will use to give assignments to learners and ensure that parents give feedback,” Mr Letshoo said.

However, the challenge for Teacher Letshoo was that some parents did not have smart phones. 

“It is difficult to reach such parents. Nonetheless, I have requested those with WhatsApp to link up with those without so that the work is printed and shared with the pupils,” he said. Ends