Times Of Swaziland: COVID-19’S DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON EDUCATION

COVID-19’S DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON EDUCATION
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BY Alex Nxumalo on 23/05/2020 22:07:00


Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who
prepare for it today” - Malcolm X.
One of the most devastating effects (with imminent, disastrous effects) of the
advent of the coronavirus is the deprivation of learning time for students - an
outcome that has affected many learners across the globe.
This crucial process of students continuing with their learning has been
severely disrupted by the threat posed by the virus and implored many countries
globally, affected by the COVID-19 to engage in lockdown restrictions, such
necessitating governments to even close down schools as a preventative measure
to curb the spread of the virus. A lot of learning time has been lost and as the
old idiom says, ‘time lost can never be regained’, the period away from
classrooms may have long-term and far-reaching consequences.
European countries like Denmark, Poland and France, respectively, have already
opened their schools. Our immediate neighbour, South Africa, from whom we mostly
copy and adopt some of her lockdown restrictions, is also gearing up to open her
schools on June 1, in a gradual easing down of lockdown restrictions, locally,
the million-dollar question is: how ready are we to follow the trend, that is,
the reopening of our schools, when the threat of the coronavirus is still so
real?
It is no secret that as a country, we have followed closely in mimicking what
some local commentators, albeit, with sarcastic undertones, have dubbed a
‘copy and paste’ exercise or replica of what some countries have put in
place. I must hasten to say that copying what other countries have done (and are
doing), on its own, is no crime and does not in any way make us appear as if we
are lacking in innovation or ingenuity. Personally, one of the greatest lessons
I have learned in life is that ‘if it works...by all means, do or copy it!’
For Pete’s sake!, to the detractors, please appreciate that this pandemic is
new, took many countries by surprise and that there was no ready-made blue print
for global countries to apply. Copying (and/or pasting) whatever other countries
are doing to combat the virus, as long as it works and saves the lives of our
people, is smart and moral. We could and must not afford to allow our infamous
Eswatini pride to cloud our judgement, making us susceptible to the wiles of our
egos.The health of hundreds, if not thousands, of our people, is at stake here.
For once, let us be patriots and be united in the face of the colossal battle we
are facing against a common and formidable enemy.
schools opening
Back to the pressing question of when and how schools should be opened... Two,
key, and dominant players are involved in deciding when, how, or why schools
should open - these are the Ministry of Education and Training and the giant,
influential and formidable teacher’s union - the Swaziland National
Association (SNAT), respectively. The latter, as much as past history has proven
that it is a constant thorn in the flesh of the Ministry of Education,
especially its incumbent minister, cannot be wished away, ignored, or shut out
from playing a pivotal role in having an input on how schools should be opened.
In light of the threat posed by the Covid-19, every stakeholder has to be
invited and involved in this mammoth, life or death situation. Any decision
taken has to  be carefully thought out so that it does not boomerang and expose
our children to the fatalities posed by the coronavirus.
Is reopening of schools going to make children vulnerable to the dangers posed
by the COVID-19? According to the Indian Express, quote : “Scientific research
on children with Covid-19 is still an emerging area. Published studies so far
indicate that incidence among children is low compared to adults, but older
children report more cases. According to a report published by the John Hopkins
Centre for Health Security this week, that summarises findings of published
literature, in the US, “among 2 572 pediatric COVID-19 cases, 15 per cent
occurred in children who were under one year old, 11 per cent occurred in
children ages one to four years, 15 per cent occurred in children ages five to
nine years, 27 per cent occurred in children ages 10 to 14 years, and 32 per
cent occurred in children ages 15 to 17 years” - unquote.
The report goes on to mention that ‘infected children do not fall severely ill
as adults, with most recovering without hospitalisation and that, however, the
precise role of children in the transmission of the virus is still unclear...’
A week or so ago, the Ministry of Education and Training, announced that it will
reschedule the school academic calendar. It confirmed that they were still
monitoring the situation and that, ‘once there was a way forward regarding the
current COVID-19 situation, they would then announce what the calender would
look like’. Sought for comment, the secretary general of SNAT pointed out
that, ‘recovery of time lost, by pupils would be the result of consultations
between the educators and the Ministry of Education’.
teachers 15 demands
The teacher’s union later on made known fifteen (15) conditions that must be
met by government prior to opening of schools. They put it succinctly clear that
government must come to the party and move with ‘supersonic speed’ in
achieving the requirements they put forward, “failing which, the 2020 academic
year could simply be rendered a wasted year...” Chief among the tabled
requirements were the demand for extensive disinfection of all schools and
tertiary institutions in the country; deployment of a team of health
professionals to inspect conditions in schools to determine the level of
sanitation and that these should be in line with the World Health
Organisation’s standards.
Since one of the crucial, preventative measures against COVID-19 infections is
availability of water, SNAT emphasised the need for provision of water tanks in
all schools to ensure a constant supply of clean, running water. The
organisation also demanded that there should be nurses stationed to all schools
and tertiary institutions, who shall conduct temperature scans for teachers,
pupils, support staff and anyone entering each school. Massive testing was also
a requirement, since it was “evident that local transmission is much more
rapid...”
Another key requirement was a teacher-pupils ratio. No classroom should have
more than 20 individuals, including teachers at a particular time.
Transportation of learners on a daily basis needed to be in full conformity with
the crucial, social distancing regulations and that all learners must be
equipped with masks. As a country, we are indeed faced with a tricky situation.
A balancing act needs to be employed to strike a balance between the right of
children to education and the consideration for their health and safety. This
calls for a united and thorough consultation between all stakeholders.
minister’s controversy
Now comes the most perplexing and dumbfounding reaction from the Ministry of
Education, more specifically and allegedly coming from the incumbent Minister of
Education....As reported by the Times of Eswatini daily on May 6, 2020, it is
alleged that the minister pointed out that all the demands made by SNAT, “were
a work in progress by the Ministry of Education COVID-19 Task Team.” She
allegedly expressed ‘shock that SNAT now owned the conditions that should be
met before the opening of schools, stating that some people were just seeking
popularity within the electorate...’
Well, well, what goes on here? Who is fooling who? The minister allegedly said
that, ‘someone could have leaked the document to SNAT’ and ‘urged that the
ministry should be left alone to do its job in peace without any
interference...’. I give up! For Pete’s sake! We are in the middle of and
faced with a very calamitous era in our existence as a country and there are
leaders who waste precious time reacting in an egocentric and narcissistic
manner? We are quite aware, as a concerned people, that there is no love lost
between the minister and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT),
but such shocking, alleged reactions from an honourable minister, are very
disturbing and disappointing, if not preposterous.
Some of us were impressed with the reaction from the SNAT Secretary General, who
exhibited calm and maturity in his reaction to the alleged outburst by the
minister. He is quoted as having said that, “the minister has the right to
think the way she did and exercised freedom of speech in her argument...” and
that, “as SNAT, we do not have the energy to address her comments...”
That was sobering, to say the least!
As if pouring scorn to the alleged minister’s sentiments and done so in a very
diplomatic manner, I must emphasise, he hit the final nail on the coffin by
saying, “the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on humanity dictated
that they (all stakeholders, I presume) needed to rise above such sentiments and
do things that would assist the general Eswatini populace in fighting the
virus...” As far as some of us are concerned, the Swaziland National
Association of Teachers (SNAT) is an integral part of - and a vital cog in the
whole machinery that is the educational system of the country. It plays a
pivotal role in the teaching of our learners, preparing them for a
post-education future.
They painstakingly nurture the present lives of our children, preparing them for
the unknown futy and logic dictates that they must be involved when the health
and future of learners is at stake. It is imperative that as a country faced
with the greatest threat in our existence, we all and collectively pool our
resources together, put aside petty differences and find lasting solutions that
will render a common enemy, comatose and defeated.
The Ministry of Education (and the honourable minister) must understand that
teachers are intellectuals and professionals - and need to be treated as such.
Let us not allow pride and egotism to divide us and cause us to fight among
ourselves over petty issues. We need to open schools, but only when the
conditions are conducive and after careful consideration of the health of our
children, especially in a crowded environment like schools.
Parents, who are deeply concerned about the health of their children, need also
to be roped in and have a say in the opening of schools. After all, it is them
who should have the final say in approving strategies put in place to safeguard
the health of their children - and that they are safe and sound. We cannot
compromise the health of our children. No! We look upon and fervently hope our
leaders will make the best - and healthy of decisions. Shalom!