Covid-19: Ministers unmask health measures for education sector amid coronavirus fight

The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, together with Minister of Higher Education and Training, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, briefed the media on their areas of work in relation to Covid-19 lockdown on 30 April.

Motshekga said that there has been a lot of anxiety about what will happen to learners and students. Here is what the ministers had to say on some key issues:

Social distancing and masks:

Nzimande said that when students return to university, there will be protocols in place to ensure there is physical distancing, access to hand sanitisers and protective masks. “Re-opening will also entail the 3 600 testing or screening of staff and students with environmental cleaning of campuses and residences.” The department is also identifying quarantine sites near the campuses.

For school learners, Motshekga said that there should be no more than two learners sharing a desk, there will be no handshaking or hugging, direct contact will be avoided and learners and staff will wear masks at all times. There will also not be any social events such as sports or cultural activities and extra classes will be organised in small groups. “We want to make sure that as the education sector, we don’t contribute at all to the spread of the virus but we also say we have to protect the academic year.”

She added that they have developed a standard operating procedure which will provide guidelines for all administrators to prevent the spread of the virus. This procedure includes:

• Guidance for childcare facilities and schools on preventing the spread of the virus
• Role of childcare facilities and schools in responding to the Covid-19
• Management of Covid-19 cases in a childcare facility or school
• Guidelines for heads of departments and supervisors on Covid-19 – procedures regarding employees
• Management and monitoring of absenteeism in schools
• Management of learner transport measures
• Closure of a unit/component/office/department, if an employee tested positive for Covid-19
• How to clean educational establishments, where there were learners, staff members, or others, with suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19.

Transport:

Motshekga said that they are working with the Department of Transport to ensure buses are sanitised prior to all trips and everyone will need to sanitise their hands before entering the bus. Learners will need to wear masks throughout the school day, including while on school transport as well as maintain a distance.

Hygiene:

Nzimande said during May, the department will be preparing all university campuses and colleges with deep-cleaning and bio-safety protocols to ensure they are safe for when students and staff return. “In the provision of personal protective equipment and cleaning materials, we will be prioritising procuring services from small and medium enterprises and cooperatives.”

Motshekga said that provincial education departments have identified 3 500 schools which are experiencing critical water supply challenges. These schools are spread across the country, except in the Western Cape. The highest number of these schools are in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

When schools reopen, classes will need to be sanitised at the beginning of each day and learners hands will be sanitised.

Water and sanitation:

Motshekga said there are concerns about access to water and sanitation in many schools. “The Department of Water and Sanitation has initiated an Emergency Water Supply programme, through which water tanks will be installed at critical supply points. The Department of Basic Education will participate in this initiative to get water tanks installed at the identified schools and to get portable water delivered to these tanks.”

She said, “We won’t phase in any school which has limited access or has challenges around water.”

We have ordered basic hygiene and sanitation packages and have also put in place different risk reduction methods around school classrooms, bathrooms, offices and food preparation.”

These packages will include cleaning and disinfection materials, personal protective equipment, sanitisers, hand soap, gloves, cloth masks and thermometers.

She said that it has been agreed to increase the number of cleaners in schools so that they are kept clean.

How to deal with anxiety and fears:

Nzimande said that the department will be providing mental health support and other forms of support necessary for students and staff.

With regard to the stigmatisation of learners who are positive with Covid-19, Motshekga said that they have dealt with these concerns with regards to HIV positive learners and will continue to do that for learners with coronavirus.

She added, “All learners, educators and support staff will receive orientation and training at the start of the school reopening, commencing with grades 7 and 12.

“We are aware of the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on families and society in general. It is unprecedented, and as a result, an increase in social, mental, psychological and emotional difficulties amongst learners, educators and officials, is anticipated.”

There are psychologists and social workers who have had training on this type of counselling who will be able to assist learners.

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