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COVID-19 PERIOD IN SCHOOLS

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MBABANE – All schools will dedicate a time slot for COVID-19 lessons. This should reflect in timetables in schools for the purposes of COVID-19 information dissemination.


The Standard Operating Procedures (sop) for Preparedness, Detection of and Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Eswatini states how and why pupils should be formally taught about the virus.


outlines


The document that was compiled in June 2020 outlines its purpose as to detail a schools reopening framework that was recently developed to highlight strategies that the ministry of education and training will implement.


“The framework also guides decision making processes to reopen schools, support national preparations and guide the implementation process,” Bertram Stewart, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training states.


The topics that are covered in the SOPs include serving of school meals; tuck-shop and cafeterias; hygiene, infection control; screening and handling of suspected cases and illnesses; nutrition and food service and school transport.


monitoring


Before opening of schools, vigorous training of school-based monitoring teams must have been done and members of these teams are a career guidance teacher, head girl or head boy, head teacher and deputy.


“Duties and responsibilities of these teams include to; link with nearest health facility and work with Ministry of Health Rapid Response Teams; response to cases identified; provide first aid counselling for suspect cases; and refer and follow-up on identified cases,” the guidelines state.
The COVID-19 training package for schools suggests that by the time schools open after the lockdown, most children will have heard about COVID-19, particularly school-age students and adolescents.


overheard


“They may have read things online, seen something on TV, or heard friends or teachers talk about the illness. Others may have overheard you talking about it. There is a lot of misinformation out there.”
It encourages the asking of open-ended questions like; What have you heard about the coronavirus? Where did you hear about it? What are your major concerns or worries? Do you have any questions I can help you answer? and how are you feeling about the Coronavirus?


“Once you know what information they have and what they are concerned about, then you can help to fill in any necessary gaps.
‘‘For 30 minutes, before teaching and learning activities resume there shall be sharing and enforcement of vital information regarding COVID-19.”
Loading capacity of scholar transport


l     Vehicles with a permissible carrying capacity of five persons is allowed to carry two passengers plus a driver (three persons).
l     Vehicles with a permissible carrying capacity of seven passengers is allowed to carry three passengers plus a driver (four persons).
l     A minibus licensed to carry 10 passengers, is limited to carry a maximum of seven passengers plus a driver.
l     A minibus licensed to carry 15 passengers, is limited to carry the maximum of 10 passengers plus a driver.
l     A minibus permitted to carry a maximum of 22 passengers, is limited to carry a maximum of 15 passengers plus a driver.
l    A bus with a passenger capacity exceeding 60 is permitted to carry not more than 50 per cent of its permissible passenger carrying capacity which includes both seated and standing passengers.

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