Lockdown Diaries: Gap between the haves and have-nots widens

The planned reopening of the schools has brought much uncertainty to parents and teachers. But the past five weeks of lockdown have been frustrating for everyone who has a schoolgoing child.

I was shocked by a social media photo circulating of a poor girl who has become a symbol for backward learning.

“I am not against online learning but what about us?” – and there is the picture of a little girl in a rural area.

I gave the WhatsApp pic just a glance and didn’t forward it. My pain was about the little girl’s self-esteem.

How can they make her the face of poor education?

The picture had a relevant message though: some kids will go on as normal with their education, using online learning with the help of their parents, and don’t have to wait for the government to reopen schools.

But for the poor in our unequal society, not even television learning is an option. What TV?

But the haves do have their own frustrations.

A friend of mine shares a laptop with her daughter who is in Grade 4.

When I asked her if she is coping with home schooling, she just shouted: “No, I’m not coping. Her classes normally start at 8am and I need to start working at 9am so it is difficult to even cope with my own work.”

Another friend also complained about the pressure that e-learning has placed on her as she needs to push her son in Grade 11 to keep up with his school work.

They also need to buy data for the kids to be online for four hours, from Monday to Friday. It is an extra expense they, as parents, never budgeted for.

Technology is not friendly to everyone. My brother, for example, struggled when he was supposed to help his son to connect online – but a phone call to me at least sorted them out.

The department of education and the government need to find a solution that will not leave the school-goers behind – but it is too early to reopen the schools at this stage.

And if they insist on sending kids back to school, at least make sure that all the classrooms have been fumigated.

Our children deserve to be kept safe.

They are, after all, our country’s future.

Duduzile Gumede.

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