Covid-19 puts paid to many matrics’ hopes for winter classes

Only 33 out of 62 pupils attending matric winter classes in North West are based at its only residential camp after 14 children tested positive for Covid-19.

The provincial education department spokesperson, Elias Malindi, confirmed the remaining 15 pupils are still awaiting their results.

Provincial education departments are only allowed to host sleepovers for matric pupils if they follow the “bubble” concept, which makes it mandatory for all pupils and teachers to be tested before they are allowed into the camp.

After entry they are banned from subsequently moving in and out of it.

The pupils and 11 teachers, whose test results came back negative, are being accommodated at Nietverdiend, a boarding school, outside Zeerust.

Initially, pupils from four schools were earmarked to participate in the winter classes at Nietverdiend, but one school dropped out of the programme.

Malindi said the winter camp, originally scheduled to start last Monday, commenced only on Thursday because of outstanding test results.

He said the camp would run until 6pm each day to recover lost time.

We are also opposed to the walk-in or day camps, particularly at a time like this when the regulations say you shouldn’t be gathering in groups and the number of infections among learners and teachers is at an all-time high.

—  Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa)

“Learners who tested positive are isolating at home and a recovery plan will be covered by their respective schools after they complete their isolation period.”

In North West, 25,365 pupils were attending extra lessons at 156 sites, including Nietverdiend.

Meanwhile, Free State education department spokesperson Howard Ndaba confirmed that eight schools with hostel facilities were being used as residential camps for 933 pupils.

He said none of the children or teachers had tested positive for Covid-19.

A further 27,882 pupils at 236 schools in the province would attend day classes.

Ndaba said the department had set aside R10m for the winter classes and that funding for meals for five days had been provided.

“The focus is on face-to-face classes as most learners won’t be able to access classes online on a daily basis.”

He said while most schools opted to hold classes over five days some also decided to have them over 10 days.

“Learners only attend at their schools and therefore they will use the same transport that they use during school terms.”

The Limpopo, Western Cape, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal education departments confirmed to Sunday Times Daily that they would not be holding residential camps because of level 4 lockdown regulations.

Meanwhile, Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), recently said hosting residential camps was “a recipe for disaster”.

“We are also opposed to the walk-in or day camps, particularly at a time like this when the regulations say you shouldn’t be gathering in groups and the number of infections among learners and teachers is at an all-time high.”