Covid: Children left in harm’s way
The education ministry has placed blame for the surge in Covid-19 cases amongst school-going children firmly on the shoulders of parents.
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
Over 2 000 learners tested positive for Covid-19 this month alone, and youth - who are supposed to be at home during this time - have taken to roaming the streets and begging for money at the entrance of shops, while others have been put to work as hawkers.
There seems to be little to no supervision of learners in Rundu, who are currently on a winter break until 26 July.
Driving along the B8 road in the town, children of school-going age can be seen manning makeshift stalls selling various items, and despite the Covid-19 regulations, most go maskless and forgo sanitising and washing their hands.
When contacted for comment, education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp revealed that between 1 and 11 July about 2 008 learners tested positive for Covid-19, something she attributes to a lack of parental supervision of learners during the closure of schools.
She said the closure of schools has deprived learners of social interaction, which seems to be lacking in some homes.
“We have always maintained at the ministry that the closure of schools has a tremendous effect and impact on our children. There is no doubt about it,” Steenkamp said.
“Schools provide a social setting for children to play, to learn, grow and to be disciplined. We must know school should be an extension of the teachings at home,” she said.
Too much movement
She said the amount of learners testing positive for the virus while schools are closed “tells us that there is too much movement”.
“There is a total disregard of the regulations that are in place,” Steenkamp added.
She urged parents to “do things at home that will keep children constructively busy”.
“Now we have children roaming around, we have very limited adult supervision and involvement to keep children constructively busy at home,” she said.
“Children are not supposed to be on the streets begging, they have homes. There are councillors, there are families and now why is it that in times of the pandemic we are paying so little attention to the well-being of the child?” the executive director asked.
[email protected]
RUNDU
Over 2 000 learners tested positive for Covid-19 this month alone, and youth - who are supposed to be at home during this time - have taken to roaming the streets and begging for money at the entrance of shops, while others have been put to work as hawkers.
There seems to be little to no supervision of learners in Rundu, who are currently on a winter break until 26 July.
Driving along the B8 road in the town, children of school-going age can be seen manning makeshift stalls selling various items, and despite the Covid-19 regulations, most go maskless and forgo sanitising and washing their hands.
When contacted for comment, education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp revealed that between 1 and 11 July about 2 008 learners tested positive for Covid-19, something she attributes to a lack of parental supervision of learners during the closure of schools.
She said the closure of schools has deprived learners of social interaction, which seems to be lacking in some homes.
“We have always maintained at the ministry that the closure of schools has a tremendous effect and impact on our children. There is no doubt about it,” Steenkamp said.
“Schools provide a social setting for children to play, to learn, grow and to be disciplined. We must know school should be an extension of the teachings at home,” she said.
Too much movement
She said the amount of learners testing positive for the virus while schools are closed “tells us that there is too much movement”.
“There is a total disregard of the regulations that are in place,” Steenkamp added.
She urged parents to “do things at home that will keep children constructively busy”.
“Now we have children roaming around, we have very limited adult supervision and involvement to keep children constructively busy at home,” she said.
“Children are not supposed to be on the streets begging, they have homes. There are councillors, there are families and now why is it that in times of the pandemic we are paying so little attention to the well-being of the child?” the executive director asked.
[email protected]
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