Ensure schools are well prepared for reopening
What you need to know:
- Special attention has to be given to the Form Four and Standard Eight candidates, who need to be prepared to sit the national examinations, tentatively early next year.
- Teaching methodologies and classroom interactions have to change and conform to the emerging realities brought about by the pandemic.
Once again we revisit the matter of school reopening because we are entering a crucial stage. Yesterday, the government directed teachers to report back to school latest on Monday in readiness for reopening. What is remaining is announcement of the reporting date for students, which we believe should be made this week.
As we have argued before, it was time learners resumed studies to avert losing a full year and contributing to what is now widely being described as generational catastrophe.
Beyond provision of physical facilities such as chairs, desks and face masks, which the government has been putting emphasis on, there are socio-psychological and academic challenges that teachers have to confront. In the main, they have an arduous task of covering the syllabus within a shorter time to recoup the lost time and prepare learners to progress to the next level. Special attention has to be given to the Form Four and Standard Eight candidates, who need to be prepared to sit the national examinations, tentatively early next year.
Central to all this is redesigning the school calendar to ensure that learners can progress to higher classes by next year.
Crucially important is teacher preparedness to handle learners after the traumatic experiences they went through in the past six months. Some learners lost parents or relatives due to Covid-19. In many families, parents lost their jobs, tossing them into economic misery and social depression.
Besides, teachers should be sensitised and prepared to support learners in the coronavirus era. Teaching methodologies and classroom interactions have to change and conform to the emerging realities brought about by the pandemic.
In the circumstances, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Education should develop a proper support system to help their staff cope and provide quality education. Importantly, teachers have to take a keen interest in monitoring the health status of the learners and reporting appropriately in case of suspected infections.
