A week from today, the 2020 school year is set to resume, as Grade 7s and 12s return to the classroom.
It will be 62 days since the lockdown started, which amounts to roughly 45 week days.
Considering that there are only 202 school days in this year, our kids have effectively lost almost a quarter of their learning time, which is a catastrophe for both learners and teachers.
As things stand, many kids are going to have to deal with the vandalism of their schools when they return over the next few weeks.
More than 1 500 schools, mostly in KZN and Gauteng have been vandalised or burgled during the weeks of the lockdown.
That in itself is an entire topic for another time.
For now, I can only, but hope that our leaders are planning to practice what they are preaching.
I hope they are also sending their own children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces back to school and campuses.
RISKY RETURN: Grade 12 and 7 pupils are back at school 1 June
Because while I understand Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s view that she cannot guarantee that there won’t be any deaths resulting from this, it hits home very differently when your own flesh and blood is among those being threatened.
Also, there’s a lot of talk about the fact that children are young and healthy and should therefore be able to fight off a Covid-19 infection.
It’s hoped that the meticulous cleaning of schools, playground social distancing and the immediate discharge of learners when teaching is done, will protect teachers.
But I haven’t seen much planning for what happens once the kids get home.
They may be able to withstand an infection with minimal symptoms themselves, but they will still be able to infect their vulnerable relatives at home.
I hope this is something the government has considered, but just in case, we as parents will have to ensure our kids disinfect every time they return from school.