Setlalekgosi JSS heeds the coronavirus message
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Friday March 27, 2020 12:50
The decision taken last week to close schools in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus outbreak did not affect the academic staff as they remained on duty. Mmegi news crew visited the school to observe some of the precautionary measures practised by the teachers in an endeavour to protect themselves from the Coronavirus.
Upon arrival at Setlalekgosi JSS, the security guard who was wearing protective clothing guided Yours Truly to a container filled with water and soap thorough hands washing.
When walking towards the administration block there were no other movements but only cars spotted at the staff parking lot.
Hand sanitiser and clinical wipes, were strategically placed on top of a table near the administration block entrance.
On their way to the teachers’ lounge, educators murmured that they were fortunate to access the government-provided sanitiser and clinical wipes at their school because the same products were finished from the local retail outlets.
In addition, for over an hour waiting patiently to meet the school head, there were no students spotted around the neither school nor parents visiting the administration block to make enquiries like in the past.
The silence at the school was unusual. Only footsteps of people moving in the corridors were heard from afar, which was uncharacteristic of the school under normal circumstances.
Regional director of education (North East) Labane Mokgosi told this publication that currently the general situation is that schools have closed, and in the process, teachers go about the business of preparing in an event of re-opening.
He added that the teachers are currently doing scheming, lesson planning, projects preparations, and marking work that was given prior to closing.
Since they had started end of term examinations at the time of closing, teachers are marking students’ tests and compiling subjects reports. As said above, preparations for eventful re-opening was also ongoing.
Mokgosi also said that some teachers have taken leave and while some are on duty and further, at the discretion of the school head, some work from their houses to avoid crowding in the case of big schools.
He also said that they are in the process of creating sick bays in all schools, highlighting that every secondary school has been given funds to procure necessities for the prevention of the Corona virus.
He shared that some of the precautionary measures taken by teachers at Setlalekgosi to prevent Coronavirus are making the school head Coronavirus focal person and establishing the health and wellness committee in the school to take responsibility of sensitising learners (before closure) and staff members on the virus. Mokgosi said just like the general public servants and general public, teachers’ face the same risks and precautions are taken as provided by the government. They are on red alert to call health officials should anyone show signs similar to those of Corona virus.