Parents express mixed feeling to schools re-opening

By Tshepison Senyane

QWAQWA-Mixed feeling towards the re-opening of the schools amid the continuing spread of corona virus.

Some parents, teachers as well students have different opinion regarding the decision by the government to re-open schools in phases.

Those who oppose the reopening of the school fear that for their children’s health. Although experts say the health disease is not powerful to children like it is in adults with underlying diseases, the fear is that some of these children live with the grandparents whose immune system is already compromised due to age.

One of the parents Thabiso Mosia who lives with his grandchildren has labelled the re-opening of the schools as a tricky situation.

“We are caught in this dilemma; we fear that our children would be infected by the virus even they do not get sick but they will come back to us and infect us. Our health is already compromised because of our age. I think it is better to be late than. We may delay school opening for better reasons of saving lives,” Mosia lamented.

However, those who are for the re-opening say they are happy with the move because the longer they stay at home, their children might fall pregnant nor acquire sexual transmitted disease while could turn into drug addicts and their future would be shattered.

Regina Mbatha, a mother of two daughter has this to say.

“We are happy that at least school is the only place where our children are protected. It is very difficult not knowing what the child could do when gets bored.

One of the teachers who pleaded not to be mentioned because of his told the Guard News per that teachers too are afraid because they are human being.

“We fear that we might get infected and leave our children. It is even more scary because Covid-19 is said to escalate in winter season compared to summer. We are sceptical and swim in this unknown stormy ocean. We are all afraid but hopeful that shall conquer”

Meanwhile teacher’s union have weighed in in opposing the re-opening of the indicating that they will not support any decision taken on Monday.

According to the IOL news, the meeting hosted by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, which includes education MECs from nine provinces, is meant to map way forward for the rest of the school year which has been adversely affected by Covid-19pandemic. But unions have already raised concern over the fact that their input has been ignored.

 The first to lash out as reported by IOL news was Sa Teachers Union (Sadtu). Its general secretary Mokwena Maluleke, said the consultation Motshekga had with them was merely formality.” What we have observed is that employer is worried about school calendar not the safety of the workers and lives. It is like workers are commodities and in abundance, and if one dies , another resource is expanded .We are in an ear where the work of workers (is a priority) but  not (their ) health or lives.to rein in the provinces , but won’t happen because the province are in competition and workers are expendable commodities’,” said  Maluleke  as reported.

“We are happy that at least school is the only place where our children are protected. It is very difficult not knowing what the child could do when gets bored.”

  Echoing his sentiments fellow union National Teachers ‘Union (natu)’s president Alan Thompson was reported expressing dissatisfaction over Motshekga’s decision to reopen schools.

“Quite clearly in our circumstances more specific information needed to have been made regarding schools’ infrastructure readiness; repair, maintenance, required extra space extra teachers -both newly recruited and substitute. The importance of physical distancing cannot be compromised if we have to win the war of Covid-19,” Thompson has said.

The schools are expected to resume in phases by June 1 ,starting with Grade 7 and 12.

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