[imagesource: Pixabay]

In a surprising display of consistency, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is sticking to its guns, with schools set to reopen on June 1 for grade 7 and grade 12 pupils.

In a statement issued earlier this month, it was announced that senior management teams (SMTs) would resume duties on May 11, teachers on May 18, and senior students at the start of next month.

Concerns were raised by teachers’ unions regarding the preparedness of schools to reopen, which included a call for comprehensive directives that outline how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in classrooms, alongside procedures for at-risk staff and students.

These have been largely addressed in a new document that explains how these issues will be handled.

Per BusinessTech, a list of questions have been issued that students and teachers will have to answer before being granted access to the school building:

• Do you have a high temperature?
• Do you have a cough?
• Do you have a sore throat?
• Do you have difficulty breathing?
• Do you feel weak and tired today?
• Can you taste food and drinks normally?
• Can you smell normally?

If someone displays none of the symptoms listed above, they will be allowed to enter for a temperature check.

If any of these questions are answered in the affirmative, or they have a temperature higher than 38 degrees, they will become a “person under investigation”, will be quarantined in a room that schools are required to set aside for that purpose, and sent for testing.

Extra precautions are necessary for students and teachers that have pre-existing conditions, or whose age makes them vulnerable to the virus.

The rules for teachers and students include the following:

• Large gatherings are prohibited
• Physical distancing dictates that a distance of 1,5 to 2 metres must be maintained at all times.
• Cloth masks are to be worn at all time
• No physical contact such as hugging or shaking hands.
• Frequent hand washing is mandatory.
• Face touching is discouraged

What’s this about gum? Well, if you’re wearing a cloth mask at all times, there goes worrying about the teacher catching you chewing away.

I’m sure pupils will still stick gum under the desk, though, because that’s akin to marking one’s territory from what I’ve heard.

I don’t really care much about this issue, and it’s not a pressing concern when compared to stopping the spread of the virus, but Seth was clearly a fan of chewing gum in his school days.

Back to the important stuff, and learners are encouraged to maintain high standards of hygiene, which teachers are required to enforce gently in the classroom.

Parents, visitors and vendors are not allowed to enter the school building unless absolutely necessary.  If this is the case they will have to report to reception, sign a register, wear a face mask, and sanitise their hands. Schools will keep in regular communication with parents through newsletters, phone calls, and text messages.

If a COVID-19 case is confirmed at a school, public health officials will perform contact tracing.

A risk assessment will be conducted that determines whether or not it is safe to keep the school open.

All transport to and from school (busses and so forth) will need to be sanitised before and after trips, with hand sanitiser available in the vehicle.

All regulations in place to prevent the spread of the virus in schools will also apply to hostels.

To find out more about additional measures for hostels and to read the full document issued by the DBE, head here.

[source:businesstech]