Should kids be going back to school during a pandemic?
This time of year is usually "Back to School"-time but it's 2021 and the coronavirus is still very much a part of our lives, making things difficult.
Although COVID-19 entered our lives last year, kids were still able to kick off the year with their first day of school.
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As the year went on though, it was clear that homeschooling was going to be the way forward and many families had to deal with and face the challenges that were involved in this setup.
Now it's a new year, but once again the same trials are looming over everyone.
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The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has recommended that the reopening of schools be postponed from the 27th of January to the 15th of February because of the spike in infections.
While the Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly believes that delaying the reopening of schools is not a wise decision, others have called for the Basic Education Department to go against this and not reopen schools in the midst of the second wave.
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Many South Africans have taken to social media to voice their opinions on the matter and there is clearly a huge divide.
It seems like there are equal amounts of people fighting the delay as there are fighting to send children back to school:
The virus is at its peak at the moment, delaying the reopening of schools is not a bad idea. Perhaps we should also wait until we have the vaccine and see how people respond to it
— Rikotse ra Mhani Nkiyasi (@Lucasmakh) January 15, 2021
Universities are reopening in March, why not schools? The recommendation by NCCC is reasonable here. This will also give impetus to the endeavours of flattening the covid infection curve and the commencement of vaccination.
— Tshingana (@Tshingana904) January 15, 2021
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There are also those that truly just sympathie with the pupils who have to go through this entire experience:
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Being a mother herself, with a kid who could be going to school or not depending on the decision, Carol decided to weigh in on the whole situation and asked the other parents of KZN what they think should happen and how they feel:
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Main image courtesy of iStock