Parents advised to aid children to study at home
COVID-19 has affected our planning, teachers, students and their parents. We have already lost a huge number of teachers due to the virus and also we have a large number of students who are in isolation in different schools and this affects our planning...
Following the decision by the government to close schools the minister of Basic Education Fidelis Molao has called on parents to continue giving their children support at home. Molao further encouraged them to put more effort in their studies during this difficult time.
Masisi on Tuesday announced that schools will close today after a high number of Covid-19 cases were recorded in schools across the country and more teachers losing their lives.
Molao added that COVID-19 has affected everyone in the education system at large. “COVID-19 has affected our planning, teachers, students and their parents. We have already lost a huge number of teachers due to the virus and also we have a large number of students who are in isolation in different schools and this affects our planning,” he said. Due to the high number of cases in schools, students have been affected academically because most of the time teachers in schools spend their time in isolation leaving students unattended.
Molao pointed out that parents should do more to make sure that their children keep on learning even at home. He also said parents should encourage students to use technology so that they don’t remain behind in their studies. “The main purpose of this school closure is to try and reduce the spread of the virus in schools. This will also give us time to draft and plan the way forward. The students who have been in isolation will remain in their isolation areas until health officials clear them. School heads and other staff who have been taking care of those in isolation will continue doing so”.
When addressing the nation on Tuesday, President Mokgweetsi Masisi indicated that teachers would be amongst the priority group to be included in the vaccine roll out. “People with underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer are more at risk, and those most affected by these conditions are elderly. To this extent, eighty percent (80%) of those who have lost their lives in this country are over 50 years. Our vaccine roll out plan therefore prioritises these groups. Front-liners, including teachers, are as well in the priority list of the vaccination strategy,” he highlighted.
Masisi said as of July 2, 2021, over one hundred and sixty five thousand (165,000) citizens and residents had received at least one dose of vaccine, and of this number, one hundred and eight thousand (108,000) people were fully vaccinated.
“We are expecting to receive 50 000 Mordena vaccines and at least 500 000 doses of Johnson and Johnson vaccines by December 2021. Our plan is to have vaccinated every Motswana by the end of 2022.” he further indicated.