Why schools should close during winter

PINI BOTLHOKO
Correspondent | Friday April 30, 2010 00:00

Certainly concern has been raised by many concerned parents and other stakeholders about the biting cold that children, some as young as six years of age have to endure during the winter spell.

The problem is worse for those from underprivileged families who can hardly afford to be sufficiently dressed to withstand this kind of weather.  Many cases have been reported of children absconding from school during this period while others can hardly pay attention during class. A resident of Francistown, Sethwala Kwenane, 76 years old, expressed hope that the motion raised on this issue a decade ago, will be implemented soon.

' Some children at primary school especially those who are doing Standard One are too young to get up early in the morning and travel the long distance to school, besides some of them end up catching flu. These children do not even listen in class as they will be feeling cold,' said Kwenane.

Kwenane added that the government does not have money to install air-conditioners in the classrooms while most parents cannot afford cars to transport their children during winter.

Tiny Senombe, 37 years of age, and a parent working as a messenger at Francistown College of Education is also strongly against children attending school during winter. ' Winter gets too cold even for adults. It makes them want to stay indoors. It is worse for a child at the tender age of five years. I think government should reduce school vacations so that the children will not have to go to school, ' said Senombe.

Modubule talked to Mmegi about his decade-old motion.

' I tried to ask the Ministry of Education about the motion as a follow up and was told that the school calendar has not been changed. Instead a mid-term break of one week has been added as a compromise immediately after the President Day holidays in July instead of the winter vacations that I suggested, ' said Modubule. Modubule said he has not given up and will soon be making a follow-up on the matter. He added that at the last session of parliament he chatted with Minister of Education, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi about the issue.

' I wonder why such a small but important issue to the public can be held back for such a long period of time.  This is a clear indication that parliament is not taken seriously. As a Member of Parliament, I was just being the voice of these voiceless children who cannot talk for themselves, ' said Modubule.

Boikhutso Ward Councilor Onkokame Robert Mosweu of Botswana Congress Party, said indeed it was a very relevant motion but regretted that 10 years down the line, the motion is yet to be implemented.

' I think the reason why the motion has not been implemented is that it was from an MP of an opposition party. The ruling party wants all good motions to originate from them. I think if the motion had been from one of them, it would have been implemented,' said Mosweu.

Mosweu went on to say neighbouring countries like South Africa that are more developed than Botswana close schools in winter and Botswana should also start doing the same. He stated that the motion does not need consultants to be approved, wondering what could be causing the delay.

'One of the pillars of vision 2016 is that we should be a compassionate and caring nation but how can we be a compassionate and caring nation when we abuse children, for indeed this is abuse, ' explained Mosweu. Botswana Democratic Party councillor of Monarch West Shah Jack said; ' We schooled in winter, but this does not mean we cannot change if it is deemed necessary especially in line with modern times. I will follow it up at the next full council meeting. '

Despite all these problems, it seems it will take some time before the government considers adopting the motion that was raised in parliament by MP Nehemiah Modubule 10 years ago that called for the schools to be closed during the winter season.In a telephone interview with Mmegi Modubule confirmed that he raised the motion for schools to be closed in winter on the 28th July 2000 and even up to now there has not been any implementation on the matter.

As we approach the  winter season, most school children in the country are probably becoming jittery when they imagine the chilly weather that lies ahead.

Young as they are, especially at primary level, children are forced to wake up early on a cold winter mornings. Watching these six-year olds, walking long distances, some of them scantily dressed and barefooted, can be a very painful sight. Many of them, especially in the rural areas or townships come from poor families without the wherewithal to dress their families for the winter season.

In some cases, because of the chilly weather, the children abscond from school. This obviously has an adverse impact on their performance making it difficult for us as a nation to achieve one of the key pillars of Vision 2016, which envisages an educated and informed nation. Also because of the biting weather, most of those in attendance will find it difficult to pay attention to their teacher. Even their teachers are affected by the cold weather and are likely to spend a good part of the day trying to keep warm.

During that time, people, mostly children would be hit by flu epidemics, which normally take a toll around winter and spring. The viruses for these epidemics are usually transmitted through the air by means of tiny aerosol pockets containing them.