Parents scared of sending their kids back to school
Johannesburg – Many parents may not send their children back to school when schooling resumes, fearing that
they may contract the corona virus.
Some say they would rather have them repeat the grade next year than let them get back this year.
The Education Department’s discussion document Draft post Covid-19 lockdown recovery plan states that the
school must ensure space in reference to social distancing, no bodily contact; and hygiene and sanitising
requirements are given attention.
One of the proposed scenarios was that a one metre distance between pupils’ chairs would be acceptable if applied
with strict precautionary measures such as temperature checking, face masks, gloves and sanitisers.
In social media discussions one parent, Luvo Ndlumbini said: “I am not sending my children back to school until
life is better.”
Another, Tebatso Nkoko said: “I am not sending my children to slaughterhouses regardless of who promises
what.”
National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) director Basil Manuel questioned how social
distancing would be done at overcrowded schools.
“We have no clue how many of our teachers have HIV/Aids, they are the most severe cases of immune-
compromised people,” he added.
National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) secretary Matakanye Matakanye said some parents
would not send their children to school because of fears for their safety.
Children are compelled to attend school until the end of Grade 9 or after they turn 15.
According to the Education Department document, social distancing will be one of the biggest challenges for
provincial education departments to implement. “Our classrooms are not always able to accommodate the
requirements in terms of social distancing,” it warns.
Department regulations state that the acceptable number for a class is 40 pupils, while in Grade R it is 30. The
optimum classroom size should be 60m2; for Grade R it is 80m2.
The document states that the norm for social distancing in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic is 1.5 metres.
