The Minister of Education and Training has appealed to Basotho to give her Ministry enough time to prepare well for the opening of the Early Childhood Centre for Development (ECCD) and Primary schools in 2021.
She said this when addressing the nation on Saturday.
She noted that it is necessary for the Ministry of Education and Training to get personal protective equipment (PPE) for students and teachers prior to the schools re-opening.
She reminded the nation that the country is still facing the challenge of the COVID-19, saying all the preventive measures ought to be undertaken to avoid plunging the country into a crisis of COVID-19.
Ms. Motsamai said, based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) as well as the National COVID-19 Secretariat (NACOSEC) regulations, face masks, regular hands wash using running water and soap or a hand sanitiser as well as cleaning schools premises are still vital to control the spread of COVID-19.
”We need to accept that COVID-19 has changed the normal way of doing things. We know that the festive season is normally time for the schools to go for Christmas vacation but due to the lost time of learning due to the pandemic, we need to utilise every time at our disposal to catch up to close the gap,” she stressed.
She stated that the Ministry of Education and Training is currently engaged in ensuring the safe re-opening of schools in the country.
In another issue, Ms. Motsamai said a task team has been established which is made up of representatives of schools’ principals, schools’ secretariat, Education and Training employees, higher education lectures as well as teachers trainers and education experts in preparation for reopening of other classes.
The Minister said a task team has been established with the aim to formulate a document that will be inclusive of parents’ views after the ministry collected the parents’ views in all the 10 districts of the country so to advise the Ministry of Education and Training accordingly.
She added that the Task Team guidelines include ways and directions, which the ministry needs to observe during this period, promotion of students to other classes, assessment of each student to prepare for a proper education during the era of COVID-19 as well as the remedial and catch up classes.
Ms. Motsamai noted that the Task Team is required for the betterment and quality education especially in the coronavirus era.
Addressing the issue of external students, the Minister said the number of external students expected to sit for the 2020 final examinations has dropped drastically, saying this is due to the fact that parents and guardians have lost their jobs due to the rampant novel COVID-19.
In conclusion, the minister wished all students and teachers Merry Christmas and Happy New year.