Recommencing of schools amidst the pandemic

As schools around the world cautiously reopen, it’s evident that the educational landscape has incalculably changed, and not only in ways obvious from photographs. Although there is an ambience of uncertainty that looms around the future, some of the high schools we visited in the Khomas region have stepped up to the plate to ensure that learning has continued amidst covid-19.

Schools have placed measures to keep the students safe and at ease of being back onto the premises. Most schools have provided masks for their students as per regulations, sanitization and temperature check stations have been set up at the entrance of the schools as well as classrooms, and the number of students in classes have been minimized to maintain social distancing.

The curriculum remains unchanged for many of the schools, although the time allocated in a day per subject has changed for some.

Cosmos High School

Mr. Ntelamo, an English teacher at the school explains that before the recommencing of schools, the teachers met and deliberated on how they could keep their students on track. They collectively decided to create subject learning packages that consists of activities and notes for two consecutive weeks. These packages are collected by parents and they return them thereafter.

"The activities are exam based to help students stay on track and to cover the necessary competencies".

Isolation rooms are available at the school incase a student or teacher’s temperature is suspiciously high. Safety measures such as mandatory check points have been established which served as entry points onto the school grounds. To prevent the erosion of mental health amongst students, the Life skills teachers were responsible for creating a weekly newsletter that core around COVID-19 and how to deal with it. Jolisha Adams (17), the Head girl asserts that the teachers are doing all that they can to prepare students well in advance for the exams.

“Our math teacher has prepared after school classes to help us catch up on the time that we have lost" she said.

The teachers ensured the provision of masks and that it is in line with the prescribed health standards. To deliver collectively on this emergency the Head boy, Avdacio Bento (17) adds that the Learner Representative Council (LRC) has proposed the idea of creating tippy-taps for their school. The LRC is convinced to take positive action to protect, enhance and advocate for their own and others’ health, wellbeing, safety and physical activity participation during the pandemic.

“The safety of students is a priority and doing this will help ease tensions" he said.

The LRC also add social-distancing signs and markers at the schools’ tuck-shop which should be adhered to during recess.

St. Paul's College

The Deputy Principal Ms. Jenkins stated that in relation to curriculum Revisions, St Paul's began preparing for remote teaching before the lockdown was announced in March. Over the recent years, St Paul's has utilized the Google Suite for Education. High School teachers had been putting material and assignments on Google Classrooms and thus learners are familiar with it. St Paul's has not lost any teaching time.

 

"We were lucky that our students and teachers had access to devices such as smart phones or computers and WiFi data." she said.

Prior to returning, High School teachers were trained to use other programmes such as Zoom for direct communication between teachers and learners. The Zoom lessons are recorded and posted on Google Classrooms for later access. Preparing online lessons has proven to be demanding and time consuming. Teachers spend a considerable amount of time designing lessons to help students engage with the material. The stair railings, light switches and handles are cleaned thrice a day and classrooms are disinfected after the end of each school day. St Paul's Head girl, Kenisha Platt  and Head boy, Christin Henckert collectively state that students who need constant prompting and encouragement from teachers found it difficult to navigate their way and guide themselves during the lockdown.

"The procedure of sanitizing desks and hands upon entering classrooms has become a habit. Students no longer have to be reminded by teachers as they consciously perform the task themselves." said Platt.

In regard to maintaining social distance, Henckert asserts that the Student Management Council (SMC) carries out daily break duties that aid in ensuring social distancing procedures are maintained. These duties include social distancing by using distinct markers (bright yellow tape) placed in all the classrooms as well as through the school and keeping tabs on the different restroom facilities by regulating the amount of people entering them at a time.

CJ Brandt High School

Chrislene, the Head girl at the school states that the new norm has been difficult to adjust to, but it’s necessary for their safety. As an emerging issue, vendors have been banned from operating in close proximity of the school. Students are also advised to bring their own lunch and the school feeding programme at the school makes provision for the nutritional needs of students who are unable to do so. A weekly teacher-student engagement exists to address important topics from multiple perspectives, thus increasing students' curiosity for, and engagement with, course content. Students are also involved in the daily cleaning of their school environment, says Chrislene. School management requires both teacher and student to wear masks, to help curb the pandemic.

"Despite the pandemic, I prefer having face to face interaction, because it’s easier to ask a question in class, and in the process help others who are shy to do so, which is difficult with e-learning" she said.

The school is currently in need of tippy taps, a simple and cost-effective handwashing solution to improve health and hygiene on school grounds. The Head boy, Nathanial Shoongola, believes that this is a situation that forces them to adhere to these measures regardless of whether they are around friends and teachers, as in times like this you can’t trust anyone as you don’t know their whereabouts. The teachers collectively agree that the school is doing its utmost best in this situation to assist their students in any way they can during the pandemic. 

Several schools in Namibia have stepped up cleaning measures to prevent the potential spread of Covid-19.

Teachers and students adhering to the government directive, including ensuring cleanliness, despite the meagre resources at their disposal. As concern about the virus grows and cases across the Namibia are increasing, everyone is working together and have an important role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 to help ensure students have safe and healthy learning environments.