Malawian education sector was hit by the impact of the novel Covid 19 pandemic when schools were closed for 6 solid months. The government tried to implement some preventive measures which for reasons ranging from political to failure to follow proper procedures the measures were difficult to be implemented to all the citizens.
The government through the Ministry of Education ordered all schools to follow preventive measures when the schools were reopened some few months ago. Some of the measures that the institutions had to follow were to make classes of not more than 40 students if the students exceeded 40. This forced some schools to have many classes thereby increasing the work load on the teachers.
As for other schools, they resorted into making shifting classes where students could attend classes skipping days. This was in attempt to abide to the orders of the government. Sports in schools were banned.
Avant publications visited some schools in the rural areas of Mchinji District. Here, it was found that no preventive measures are followed. At one school as shown in a photo, children observed no social distance and they had no masks.
Its a class that follows shifts but nothing is followed as to prevent the students from catching the virus if any. This situation just shows that the government is not serious in assessing the situation in schools.
If the measures can not be followed why then making students attend classes in a skipping order. This system deteriorates the standards of education which already leaves a lot to desire.
The students at another school were having an expensive arts lesson where students were dancing with body contacts. After the lesson, they knockedoff with no observation of preventive measures.
In some cases, government officials visit schools, but the students in rural masses abandoned following covid 19 preventive measures way back.
If the measures are not being followed why should the students attend classes in shifts skipping days? Why should they shift even when they skip they are not safe? And why should teachers be overloaded with work by splitting the classes as a way to prevent the spread of the disease while even in such situations no safety measures are followed? Will the next term be handled in this same way? Then we are not serious with our children.
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