Hive of activity as schools prepare for pupil influx
FROM last-minute preparations in township schools to long queues at liquor stores and taxi ranks to graceful welcome backs at private schools, Pretoria was a hive of activity yesterday.
From the early morning, Mamelodi was bustling with people preparing for a return to work. Taxi and bus queues were longer than usual, with commuters ready to earn a living again.
The township was also expected to be much busier with schoolchildren returning to school, but that was not the case.
Both high schools and primary schools in Mamelodi remained closed, with only teachers and members of the governing body allowed in.
Schools had their gates open from early morning and staff trickled in, all donning masks and some with gloves.
A pupil at Mamelodi High School was turned back by officials manning the gate. The matric pupil said he was eager to start learning again.
“I heard that schools will only open next week but I didn’t want to take a chance. So I came to see for myself,” he said.
Most of the schools are familiar with overcrowding. A staff member at the embattled Modiri Technical School said they had yet to get their personal protective equipment. One school that was particularly hard at work since the morning was Dr IM Monare Primary School in Mamelodi West.
Staff and volunteers were cleaning and disinfecting classrooms while also placing desks and chairs in accordance with physical distancing regulations.
From early morning, teachers rolled up their sleeves for final the preparations for opening next week.
Deputy principal Thomas Nchabeleng said they had been ready since last week, and were just creating even more space. “We’ve been ready and received all the protective items. Today we are just creating more space and finalising,” he said.
Further afield at Kutumela Molefi Primary School near Bronkhorstspruit, teachers were also hard at work. According to chairperson of the school governing board, Solomon Gamede, 98% of teachers attended and were given protective equipment and sanitisers, and their temperatures were taken. “Classes are marked for social distance at 1.5m, and we prepared 12 classes. We are expecting 210 pupils,” he said.
Schools reopened only for management teams, teachers and non-teaching staff.
It was a different story altogether at some private schools in Pretoria like
Abbotts College in Hazeldean, Waterkloof House Preparatory School and Crawford College, as they welcomed their Grade 7 and Grade 12 pupils with open arms.
Strict measures like temperature readings and hand sanitising were the order of the day as pupils and staff returned. While most pupils were happy to see their friends again they had to keep their distance.