From the beginning of the lockdown period, Rand Park High School has offered an extensive e-learning programme to continue the delivery of the school’s curriculum to learners. The school’s Heather Robinson said that after Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga announced on 19 May that Grade 7 and Grade 12 learners will be returning on 1 June, the school has been actively preparing for the return of Grade 12 students back into the classroom. This return has since been postponed to 8 June.
“With the phased-in approach of learners returning to school, we will continue to offer this e-learning solution to learners from Grade 8 to 11 until the respective grades have returned to school,” she said.
After a parent raised concern over their child returning to school, or being asked to de-register, Robinson confirmed that the school is acting in compliance with the law.
Since the matrics are returning to school, the school’s educators need to commit fully to teaching in the classroom. “If a child is suffering from co-morbidities, we will provide as much support as possible to that child during this challenging time, however, where a learner is in good health, we will remain compliant with the Department of Basic Education’s recommendations and requirements.
“Both the minister of basic education and the President stressed that parents will not be forced to send their children to school, but the law requires learners to return to some form of formal schooling.
“We acknowledge this and confirm that learners are not being forced to return to school. The Minister has emphasised that in terms of the law, all parents are compelled to register their children at a school and for them to attend that school, and we are ensuring that we are compliant with these requirements.”
Robinson reiterated that the school is deeply committed to the safety of their learners and the delivery of the school curriculum. “In accordance with the law, we have made it compulsory for all of our learners to wear masks throughout the school, with plenty hand sanitiser that needs to be used regularly, and we will ensure that each learner is disinfected before entering the school premises.”We also fully understand that some parents are anxious and stressed about the future, however, we need to work within the constraints of available resources and offering a dual in-person teaching/online solution will result in one of these two options being under-delivered in some way,” concluded Robinson.
