Learners at Unity College in Chartwell were happy to be back in their physical classrooms on 1 February, following an abrupt closure of the school on 27 January this year.
The school, which caters for learners with special needs, and other schools across the province briefly opened but were later ordered by the Department of Basic Education to close due to the surge on Covid-19 infections countrywide.
School principal at Unity College, Retha van Niekerk said challenges brought by the year 2020 have taught them to have other plans to prepare for unknown situations.
“Out of a disruptive 2020, Unity College strived for stability but also realised that flexibility and resilience have to be part of our makeup as the next curve ball will most definitely be there. The year 2020 was unprecedented and was a difficult time. Our children learned to thrive on routine.
“When things suddenly changed on the 27th [of January], we didn’t worry much because we have prepared ourselves.
“In and out of lockdown meant turning on to online teaching and learning which is not always easy for our special needs children who flourish in a classroom set-up. Our learners perform better in a one-on-one environment with a teacher in a classroom.”
She added that although learners have lost one week of their academic year in a physical classroom environment due to the postponement of school reopening, learners and teachers managed to utilise online learning and teaching.
She concluded, “We learned how little we can actually manage to get by with, when forced to be without all the ‘extras’.
“We learned all about fast adaptability to the only available options and plan for the unexpected. We hope that through lessons learned in 2020, this year will be a better year to leaners and educators as well.”
