Greater Gaborone students lost 47 teaching days to lockdowns

The Ministry of Basic Education says it was forced to keep Form 1 and Form 2 students at home to allow for the completing students (form 3s) to sit for their Junior Certificate exams.

Due to Covid-19, schools realised inadequate teaching space as exams were conducted in classrooms instead of school halls as it has been the norm. In order to be COVID-19 compliant, halls used were partitioned to accommodate smaller groups of about 30 students.

Ministry spokesperson Oarabile Phefo said this was done so that not many candidates would be affected in the event one candidate was found to be COVID-19 positive, and to ease off contact tracing.

As a result, more classrooms in schools were required for exams thereby leaving less space for teaching and learning.

Phefo said the learners had to remain home until the end of 2020 JC Examination last week. He said this did not adversely impact learning since the students were given homework so that they continue to learn and prepare for tests.

However, the length of time spent at home by Form 1s and Form 2s during examination time differed from school to school depending on the extent of lack of teaching space and the examination timetable.

He said the school calendar will next year have 199 days compared to this year’s 191 days in recognition of the fact that more time will be needed for catch up next year.

“In total, learners (Standard 7s, Form 3s and Form 4s) lost 47 teaching days in Greater Gaborone Zone while in other zones they lost 33 days due to lockdowns.

“School calendar was adjusted to replace the 33 days, while 14 days lost in Greater Gaborone zone could not be addressed by the adjustment of a national school calendar,” he said Does this mean students residing in the Greater Gaborone zone have been disadvantaged going into their examinations? Phefo said the Botswana Examination Council rescheduled the examination timetable and practical moderation dates to allow schools, especially those in Greater Gaborone Zone, more time to complete the syllabus and project work. Moreover, the ministry through the Department of Curriculum Development and Evaluation and Regional Education Offices made an assessment of curriculum coverage and were satisfied that the teaching curriculum was satisfactorily completed for completing classes.

As for counselling, Phefo said that Guidance and Counselling Unit in schools as well as Department of Special Support Services continue to give staff and learners counselling and psychosocial support in recognition of the impact that the pandemic could have had on them.