Despite rising COVID-19 cases among learners, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Anna Nghipondoka maintains that children are safer in school than they are at home.

Nghipondokal while responding to questions in the National Assembly on Tuesday, said schools have everything they need to ensure a safe environment for both learners and teachers ols.

She was responding to questions by Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian Elma Dienda who wanted to know why children are still required to go to school while parents are being encouraged to work from home.

Dienda wanted to find out what additional measures have been put in place to address rising COVID-19 cases among learners, whom she fears are taking the virus back home and infecting their households. Dienda said several schools, especially in Khomas, have been closed due to rising cases.

In response, Nghipondoka said the ministry has guidelines in place which they continue to update to ensure the safety of learners and teachers.

“When we reopened the schools, we came up with curriculum guidelines which stipulate what should be done. We have clear guidelines that deal with hygiene as well as isolation should a teacher or child show symptoms of COVID-19,” Nghipondoka said.

She however said the challenge the ministry is facing is a lack of social distancing at some schools, but they have been advised to adopt a system which allow children to be spaced out in classrooms and hostels where possible.

“Everything is being done unless the health minister will come in, we are saying the children are safe at school and we are not convinced that it is safe for us to keep our children at home. That is why we are rather managing the situation case by case while ensuring that both teachers and learners are relatively safe because no one can tell me that a child can be safer at home than at school. A child can be protected at home and at school, this is the new normal that we must get used to,” Nghipondoka said.

Source: Namibia Press Agency