By BAKANG MOKOTO
It’s all systems go for 1583 schools across the province to welcome their learners and resume learning and teaching for the 2021 calendar. North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said all schools are prepared to receive learners with screeners readily available as well as masks and sanitizers for hygienic purposes.
“The department has plans in place to recover lost teaching and learning since January. These plans include extra classes, a Dial-a-tutor program, radio lessons as well as special camps taking into consideration COVID-19 protocols to name but a few.
“Since the learning losses vary from school-to-school and class to class, each school will develop the subject recovery plans informed by the provincial subject improvement plans. Textbooks have been ordered and delivered to all schools that made requests,” she said.
Regarding provision of teachers, Matsemela said the province has teachers who filed for retirement due to comorbidities. She further said to mitigate the challenge, they will recruit some of the provinces Funza Lushaka bursars, while temporary teachers will also assist fill the gaps.
“On infrastructure, the province has procured an additional 282 317 desks and chairs for learners and 256 mobile classrooms for 176 schools. These will aid ease classroom congestion and adherence to social distancing among learners.
“To ensure schools do not run out of water, tanker arrangements through municipalities and communities are arranged. On National School Nutrition Program, the province caters for 741 522 learners and food handlers have also re-opened and provisioned for,” said Matsemela.
She added that the monies were deposited in schools in December 2020 for procurement of protective clothing and aprons as well as detergents. Matsemela said special schools and hostel schools are also provisioned for.
“To monitor total compliance, we will visit Mogawane Mochoete Primary School and Kopanelo Secondary School in Ga-Khunwana near Kraaipan on Monday. On Tuesday, we will visit Broedersput Primary School in Vryburg, Temoso Special School and Huhudi Secondary School in Ganyesa,” said Matsemela.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) MPL in Gauteng, Khume Ramulifho said: “It is important to ensure that this academic year is not disrupted while observing all health protocols to save lives. Schools have been proven to be the best place for learners to observe social distancing, wear masks and wash or sanitize hands.
“The DA will inspect whether basic services like water, sanitation, school nutrition, scholar transport, learning materials, school infrastructure and personal protective equipment are all properly arranged before schools are reopened for the 2021 academic year.”
The Guardian 