Parents turn out in numbers to collect education packs |20 March 2020
Parents picking up their children’s education packs yesterday (Photos: Thomas Meriton)
Parents with children in crèche up to primary 3, as well as in Secondary 1 to S3, came down in numbers yesterday to collect the necessary education materials to guide their children who have been given two weeks off school following the closures of state crèche, primary and secondary schools on Mahé due to the threat of COVID-19.
The education packs are the results of an extensive two-day work, since Monday March 16, 2020, between the ministry, teachers and school management which include textbooks, worksheets and supplementary exercises, among various school’s hand-outs.
In addition, the ministry is also making available downloadable resources on its website while some teachers are also posting education materials and lessons on WhatsApp and on the schools’ FaceBook pages.
Most of the heads of school in the central region said they were overwhelmed by the number of parents who came to collect the education packs.
“It shows that a lot of parents are showing interest in the education of their children and this is a good sign. I hope they really get their children to stay at home and do their studies,” said Jane Laurette, the head teacher of Bel Eau primary school.
To avoid social contact during the collection, the different schools had various practical ways for the parents to make the collection of the prepared educational packs, among the other materials related to topics prepared by the ministry, some of which were placed conveniently at the sitting area of each student, where parents only picked up the pack and left the school’s compound while others were hand delivered. Some schools had also placed sanitation procedures which included hand sanitisers and hand washing facilities.
Parents had been advised to take their time and to pass by at any time during the day, since teachers were present from 8am to 3pm and also ready to assist them during lunchtime with the delivery of the education packs.
According to both parents and teachers all went smoothly. But there were some confusion somehow though at some schools where some parents turned up very early in the morning before the actual collection time which was 8am, thinking they will be assisted while some turned up to collect the education pack they are supposed to pick up today for their children.
“I think some parents did not make an effort to listen carefully or did not grasp the communication from the ministry correctly,” Ms Laurette said.
Today it will be the turn of parents with children in primary 4 to P6 and Secondary 4 and S5 to collect the necessary education materials. Parents collecting the education packs for Secondary 4 and S5 students are being advised to bring along a pen-drive to copy additional educational materials in the form of videos among other lessons. With leniency, the schools will today also assist parents who could not make it yesterday to collect their children’s prepared education packs.
Parents are being urged to embrace the opportunity to follow up on their children’s studies and to also ensure that they go over them.
