With the 2022 academic year in full swing, parents in the Khomas region have expressed displeasure towards certain schools that continue with the cohort system despite the government’s directive that schooling should return to normal. 

This system sees one group of learners attend class for a week and stay at home the next week.

Last week, health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula during the national Covid-19 briefing at State House announced the general health regulations related to education are retained without
change. 

“Educational institutions are allowed to operate at full capacity. Schools that are not equipped to operate at full capacity should make their own internal arrangements to adhere to the Covid-19 prevention protocols such as rotational or alternate attendance of classes by learners,” Shangula said. 

Equally, he assured the health both the ministries of health and education will continuously engage to find the best balance between adherence to the prevention measures and the provision of quality education.

However, some parents expressed concerns this week about some schools’ decision to resume schools on a cohort basis where some learners stay home for a week while others go to school as a Covid-19 health measure.

A parent whose child is at Eros Primary School complained since the school started, he is forced to make arrangements for his child to attend daycare.

“I had to make arrangements for my child to be at daycare the week she is off because there is no one at home. My child is now attending two schools and I feel she is even more exposed to Covid-19. We want the schools to return to normal just like other government and private schools. As it is now, there are a lot of inconveniences caused by this arrangement,” said a father of two, who refused to be mentioned in fear of victimisation for his children attending the school.

Another concerned parent feels they are forced to incur extra costs because they have to find a daycare or hire someone to look after their kids when they go to work.

“Its extra costs for us. We, as parents, are already struggling to buy stationery and other school materials. So, it’s really costly for us. Schools should return to normal because there is no directive from the health minister to start a cohort system in schools,” he complained.

Contacted for comment yesterday, deputy executive director for formal education Edda Bohn said the ministry is aware that schooling should return to normal.

“We are fully aware it is changed to full attendance. We don’t retract. We are waiting for regulations so we change to full attendance. When we opened the schools in January, that time the President had not yet announced the new measures. We will open in full – not in cohorts,” she assured.

Bonn singled out that schools face the challenge of overcrowded classrooms.

She cited Eros Primary as one of such schools with a high number of 48 learners per class, exceeding the set ratio of one teacher per 35 learners. 

According to her, these classrooms were built to accommodate not more than 35 learners as currently is being experienced due to the high demand of certain grades.

Therefore, she said schools are forced by the high number of learners to resort to a cohort system of splitting them into groups weekly.

“We are still investigating the best way possible. We hope to open in full for all but also keep the learners safe,” Bonn said. 

– anakale@nepc.com.na