By OBAKENG MAJE
Teaching and learning were affected at Seabo High School in Kokomeng village near Taung after more than 20 learners tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Some of the parents raised concerns and questioned whether the school complies with safety measures in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
One parent who refused to be named for fear of reprisal said: “We are concerned after many learners tested positive for COVID-19. We are not sure that in the context of COVID-19, a number of safety preconditions are applied. How can we be so sure about the safety of our learners while COVID-19 ravages them like this?
“We urge the school to come up with a recovery plan because teaching and learning were affected. Many learners are currently in quarantine especially those who are doing Grade 12,” she said.
In a letter that was sent to parents by the school management, the principal, Michael Lamola urged learners who tested negative for COVID-19 to come to school after allegations that many learners now refuse to go back to school in fear of being infected.
Lamola said in a letter sent to the parents or guardians that teaching and learning will continue as normal from 17 August 2021 after the classrooms were fumigated on 14 August 2021.
“We believe that it is safer now for learners to go back to classrooms and resume teaching and learning. The school management also urges learners who are still waiting for their results, to stay at home until they get them,” he said.
The North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi said he cannot confirm nor deny whether learners got infected with COVID-19 while at the school premises or otherwise.
“We might not be aware of what caused the infections. They either got it at home or otherwise. For now, the school continues to receive results, and learners who tested positive up to so far are Grade 12 (11), Grade 11 (17 and 16 have submitted the letters with one new case).
“A Grade 10 learner was also infected including the scholar bus driver. The school has 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases thus far and it has been fumigated. So, teachers have drafted their recovery plans to assist the learners,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health department, Madoda Sambatha acknowledged a provincial milestone of passing the 500 000 COVID-19 vaccines administered to date across the province’s four districts.
“As a province, we are proud to see the positive progress we are making in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. As such our attainment of 509 290 vaccines administered is no small feat. This points to the hard work and dedication of our frontline staff to ensure that our communities receive this vital protection against the virus.
“North West has been on the top three provinces who have been experiencing the surge in third-wave infections therefore all efforts are needed to ensure that the registration and vaccination programmes are accelerated,” Sambatha said.
He further said they need to remind and urge communities to take full advantage of the current arrangement of walk-ins at various vaccination sites to receive these important jabs.
The province has to date registered 137 039 positive COVID-19 cases, with 116 920 people having recovered which translates to an 85,3% recovery rate.
The Guardian 