Pupils who lose caregivers to Covid-19 given support
PSYCHO-social support is provided to pupils who lose a parent or guardian, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said in the wake of a new study that found one in every 200 South African children had lost a primary caregiver due to Covid-19.
The research into Covid-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers was undertaken in 21 countries.
Woodbridge Primary School last week offered messages of condolences to three of its pupils who lost their fathers due to Covid-19-related ailments.
Two of the pupils are in Grade 4 while the one is in Grade 2.
Provincial education spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said when a pupil's caregivers or family members passed away, for whatever reason, a school's psycho-social support networks were called on to provide assistance if required.
“In instances where learners are orphaned or are the responsibility of the courts the WCED works with the relevant government departments to assist with placement at schools,” she said.
The study was undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at UCT's Accelerating Achievement for Africa's Adolescent Hub in partnership with the University of Oxford.
Professor Lucie Cluver, co-author of the study, said globally, 1.5 million children have lost their primary caregivers to the virus, a “hidden pandemic” that was expected to have long-lasting and damaging implications for children.
“Due to the staggering findings, the researchers call for an urgent response that draws on and harnesses the power of development accelerators – defined as services, provisions or policies that will lead to progress across multiple UN SDGs (sustainable development goals), to improve outcomes for children with diseased caregivers across the world.
Development accelerators such as cash transfers and parenting support have proved to be an effective response, as is seen in evidence emerging from South Africa,” Cluver said.
She said other countries with similar high statistics like South Africa include Peru, the US, India, Brazil and Mexico. “Accelerator programmes need to be adapted according to the Covid-19 context.
“We need investments urgently to get this ball rolling,” she said.
The study noted that in the Western Cape, a grandparent and elderly aunt were primary caregivers because of the drug scourge, the HIV epidemic and high unemployment.
Orphanages in the province, meanwhile, said they have been inundated with requests to take care of children in child-only households.