Parenting has never been an easy feat in normal circumstances, but most people find a way to manage and get through it with only minor cuts and scratches. The Corona virus, COVID_19 is proving to be a spanner in the works though and will have many parents panicking not only about how to keep their child safe from virus, but also how they can keep them entertained and educated during the lockdown period.
For parents who were already home schooling nothing much changes except adding some sanitation tips to their curriculum. But for most parents there's alot to learn in a short space of time. Here are some home schooling tips to make it easier for you:
Delivering her State of the Province Address on Tuesday, Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane said two schools will be built in Mbombela, one in Secunda, Ermelo, Lydenburg and eMalahleni, respectively. “The province has prioritised the alleviation of overcrowding in urban areas. We have conducted a needs assessment for additional classrooms in fast-growing towns and all other urban areas,” the Premier said. The province also plans to build a school for deaf children, which will be housed within the City of Mbombela Municipality. The project is at the design stage.
"Mathematics and Physical Science are gateway subjects to professional careers," says Tumelo Mabitselo, CEO for the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science & Technology. "Poor marks in these subjects eliminates a range of study and career options for students." Initiated in 2005, the aim of NGO, Kutlwanong is to accelerate the quality and quantity of STEM performance amongst township and rural youth in South Africa. Over the past 15 years, the programme has advanced the Maths and Science performance of over 25,000 township and rural students, enabling over 7,000 students to achieve distinctions in Mathematics and Physical Science.
Here we speak to Mabitselo further about Kutlwanong and its programmes, such as the Promaths Programme:
What is Kutlwanong and the Promaths Programme?
Mabitselo: Kutlwanong runs learner, teacher development, career path and alumni programmes to provide a pipeline of support for township and rural students to achieve top performance in Maths and Science; access tertiary education and enter professional careers. Promaths is the learner programme that advances the STEM performance of township and rural youth across South Africa. The programme is a platform for top performance in Math and Science, encouraging students to perform well in these and other subjects to obtain a Bachelors Pass - a key criteria for accessing tertiary education.
Our programme also runs career roadshows where it exposes learners to scarce skills STEM careers, assists them with tertiary and bursary applications, enabling them to make informed decisions about their choice of career and place of study. We provide a springboard for learners to enter professional careers, growing a pool of young, driven, talent pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths careers.
The SA Medical and Education Foundation (SAME) and corporate donors officially opened the Masia Maths and Science Academy (MMSA) in Ha-Masia, Limpopo on 6 March 2020. The new Maths and Science Academy will serve thousands of learners in the Vuwani region. The MMSA – hosted at a school in the region – has state-of-the-art learning facilities, including five fully furnished and equipped classrooms, three science labs, and a computer centre. The Academy will take in learners from up to 20 surrounding schools, who will be tutored and taught skills in science and mathematics by the highly qualified educators of the MMSA.
Read more: Maths and Science Academy opens to uplift rural Limpopo
We are facing the most trying times in decades, facing another test as humans. But like all previous and sometimes worse circumstances WE WILL PREVAIL if we stand together and act responsibly.
As the number of coronavirus cases grows in South Africa, we're hearing a lot about how social distancing, self-monitoring and even quarantine play into containment efforts.
But what do those terms mean, and when do they apply?
We asked experts and found out there is some overlap and lots of confusion.
Here's a quick guide for what you need to know.
Q: Why is all this happening?
In the U.S., testing got off to a slow start, limiting efforts to isolate those with the COVID-19 disease. Public health experts now say the most important goal is to slow the spread of the coronavirus so that the number of people who require medical attention doesn't overwhelm hospitals.
Read more: What to know about self-quarantine, isolation, and social distancing in these tough times