Back to school: urban classes have smooth reopening, not so easy for rural communities
GUGU PHANDLE, SIKHO NTSHOBANE, AMANDA NANO and SIVENATHI GOSA
The long-awaited return of Grade 7 and 12 pupils to class on Monday highlighted the huge divide between urban and rural schools and systemic shortcomings that continue to plague education in the Eastern Cape.
The first day back was relatively painless for most East London schools, although at least two had to send pupils home as a precautionary measure after a teacher and parent tested positive for Covid-19.
It was a very different picture in the former Transkei, where many schools could not open because they were yet to receive personal protective equipment (PPE) or water tanks. Vandalism of buildings and theft of vital equipment also ensured doors remained shut.
Alicia Jooste of Amnesty International SA said as unfortunate as the situation was, it was not unexpected.
“The fact the department was trying to fix a systemic issue in a couple of weeks was always going to lead to some schools not having safety measures in place. The systemic failure of the education department has been exacerbated by Covid-19. We’re seeing that through some schools opening and some schools not opening,” Jooste said.
School representatives at West Bank High and Greenpoint Secondary schools in East London confirmed cases of Covid-19.
West Bank principal Tom Dreyer said a parent of a Grade 7 pupil received a positive Covid-19 test result on Monday morning.
As a result, all Grade 7 pupils had to remain home and selfisolate “pending the results of the pupil”.
Greenpoint school governing body chair Leon Cassels told the Dispatch a teacher at the school had tested positive for Covid19.
“The staff member had contact with the principal. Otherwise the children were sent home and I can say there isn’ ta pupil with the virus. The school will need to be resanitised and all protocols followed before it can be open again,” Cassels said.
The first day back was far rosier for other East London schools, however.
Teachers and student management teams at Ebenezer Majombozi High, Parkside Primary, John Bisseker Secondary and East London Secondary schools were well prepared, screening and providing sanitisers to pupils.
Clearly demarcated social distancing mechanisms were visible on the school grounds and every pupil and staff member wore a mask.
Addressing the children, Ebenezer Majombozi principal Victor Pakade said: “Covid-19 is aggressive so please, we must all be cautious.”
Parkside Primary parent Lucia Fritz said she had mixed feelings about her child returning to school. “I’m not at ease at all. God forbid something were to happen and there’s an outbreak at the school. However, my child needs to learn. I’m trusting the school will remain responsible and take care of our children,” Fritz said.
In Mdantsane, Mzomhle High, Nkululeko Senior Primary and Khulani Commercial High schools were also on top of their game, ensuring pupils wore masks and sanitiser was plentiful.
Mzomhle principal Malusi Koltana said although they received their PPE late, the SGB and parents had pulled out all the stops to ensure school could resume.
Nkululeko principal Xolile Mbanga said the school would make use of nine classrooms for its 213 Grade 7 pupils to ensure physical distancing efforts.
In Zwelitsha, Thembalabantu High School pupils told the Dispatch they were happy to be back at school despite having to contend with a “new normal”.
Matric pupil Abongile Mtsishe said: “I know that if I can push myself and study I’ll be fine by the time exams come. I like business studies and would like to be an economist.”
At St Christopher’s Private School in King William’s Town, the Dispatch observed demarcations for the pupils to line up for the screening process. The children had already entered the building.
Parent Malusi Bata said: “From my observations as they entered the school there was physical distancing and their temperatures were taken. ”
Beyond Buffalo City Metro, however, school governing body members were desperate.
In Ngqeleni, DZ Dumezweni Senior Secondary School was still waiting on the delivery of PPE for their Grade 12 pupils.
The school had managed to get PPE for teachers and have the buildings fumigated, but according to SGB chairperson Moses Ngcame, the pupils still had to be turned away.
“We told them they cannot go inside the school until everything has been sorted out,” he said.
Ngqeleni Senior Secondary School SGB chairperson Mvuyo Tshayisa said pupils were asked to stay home “a little longer” as the decontamination process only started on Monday.
“We also still have to fix windows that are broken and doors that have no latches. We are busy trying to get everything sorted out,” Tshayisa said.
A staff member at Ngqeleni’s Mkundlu Junior Secondary School, who asked to remain anonymous as he is not permitted to speak to the media, said a major concern was lack of proper ablution facilities at the school. Though the school had about three water tanks they were all empty, according to the teacher.
In Libode, Dikela Junior Secondary, Zibungu Senior Secondary and Zele Senior Primary schools also remained closed on Monday as they were still awaiting PPE for pupils.
Zele SGB member Golden Mbazana said they were in the dark as to when the materials would arrive.
Dikela principal Daliwonga said their school did not have adequate sanitation and pupils had little option but to use crumbling pit toilets.
Zibungu principal Mziwekhaya Nojoyi said: “We are starting to panic now as time is against us.”
In Elliotdale, Mdabuka Senior Primary principal Siphokazi Mdeyide said they had received PPE at the weekend but were still waiting for a government water tank.
Several schools in Mbizana were also unable to open on Monday.
Sadtu’s secretary in Mbizana, Xolile Bani, said on Saturday the union had been informed that only 125 of the 218 public schools in Mbizana were ready to reopen.
DA MPL Yusuf Cassim called the Eastern Cape education department an “outright embarrassment”.
The Dispatch sent a query concerning the reopening of schools to provincial education spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani on Monday, but he had not responded by print deadline.