SHOULD SCHOOLS OPEN FULLY?

Reopening schools to full capacity in Gauteng could spell disaster for the already stretched healthcare system, says a doctor.

This as concerned parents, unions and school organisations debate the risks and benefits of allowing thousands of pupils to return to classrooms at full capacity next month.

One of the dangers, according to general practitioner Dr Daniel Israel, is the difficulty teachers have in policing children’s behaviour to such actions as wearing a mask, washing hands and keeping social distance.

“Teenagers tend to be rebellious and don’t always think of the consequences,” said Israel.

From 6 July, Grades R to 11, as well as special schools, are supposed to open fully, as announced by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

A school may be permitted to deviate from the phased return to school in respect of specific grades or dates, provided that such school complies with the minimum health, safety and social distancing measures and requirements on Covid-19.

Gillian Shannon, not her real name, is a mother to two children in a northern Johannesburg private primary school. Parenting under lockdown has been trying for the family. Though they are not constrained by financial difficulties, this has not meant that remote learning is easy for the children.

“Being a working parent can be difficult when you’re working from home and you have to manage online learning for two small children,” she said. Despite this, the thought of sending her children to school when Gauteng was experiencing the third wave of Covid-19 was unthinkable.

“Online learning is far from ideal and not as effective as learning within a classroom environment… But there’s no such thing as ideal at the moment,” she said.

The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa, (Isasa) fully supported schools returning to full capacity next month, but also suggests schools and government take a flexible approach to allay the concerns.

Isasa executive director Lebogang Montjane said schools were the best place for pupils to be and, in some instances, the safest.

But come next month, Montjane said it would be wise for schools to allow for parents who have added risk factors such as those with comorbidities to keep their children at home, especially in Gauteng where the bulk of third-wave Covid-19 cases have been concentrated.