Schools get ready to reopen

KAROO NEWS AND VIDEO - School principals, teachers and management bodies in Graaff-Reinet have a big task on their shoulders to ensure the effective reopening of schools for Grade 12s and Grade7s.

Issues raised by some staff members include the uncertainty about the spread of Covid-19 and the curriculum ahead of a shortened school year. Many headmasters are scared that South Africa may move back to level four or even five of the lockdown, which will cause schools to close their doors again.

High schools

William Pringle, headmaster of Union High, and his staff are positive to reopen. In a letter to parents, he said they are ready to teach on campus.

“This past week, our school has done everything we can to plan and be ready, to procure our own PPE’s, to revise timetables and venues and to prepare our boarding houses to accommodate your children,” Pringle said.

JP Grootboom, headmaster of Asherville Secondary, said he is unsure how many of the 62 Grade 12 learners will return to school. “Parents told us that we cannot guarantee the safety of learners,” said Grootboom.

However, he and support staff sanitised the school and made sure everything is in place for teaching.

Grootboom said the school continued with online education during lockdown, but not all children have the necessary computer equipment, Wi-Fi or data to make use of the online learning material.

Grootboom also expressed his concern about the availability of water at the school, as it has had no running water since 27 May, and is awaiting water tanks to be delivered.

Theo Dorfling, headmaster of Hoër Volkskool, expects 62 Grade 12s learners to return but said it is unsure how the rest of the school year will pan out.

The chairperson of Nqweba Secondary’s school governing body, Stuart Giyosa, said they cannot open the school because there is no water or sanitation.

Watch a video below.

Spandau Secondary School’s headmaster, Eugene Mackelina, referred any enquiries to the Department of Education.

Primary schools

Trevor Moos, headmaster of Narsingstraat Primary, said the school will open, but the pandemic cannot be taken lightly. He admitted that many of the 120 learners' parents are too scared to send their children back to school.

The acting headmaster of Ryneveld Primary, Nolene Fourie, also noted the parents’ concern and said the parents cannot be blamed if they are too scared to send their children back to school.

At Graaff-Reinet Primary, headmaster William Hector and his personnel are all set to continue with the revised 2020 curriculum. “We received our PPE’s and money to feed the learners,” he said. Hector said the learners indicated they are happy to come back because they want to learn and get out of the limited space at home. Hector added that they are only three weeks behind the curriculum but will catch up with ease.

Watch a video below.