Mental health best supported by differentiated school reopening

As the DA in the Western Cape, we believe that delaying the start of the academic year places even more strain on learner well-being. Learners have to cope with added academic pressure and the anticipated impact of another uncertain year. Some learners have sadly lost parent(s), caregivers and loved ones, which will have long lasting impact on well-being and performance. A differentiated approach would allow for schools to reopen based on its readiness, and by taking into consideration the need for contact time with its learners.

It is impossible for all learners to fully benefit from distance learning as it stands.

Recent statistics by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) show an alarming increase in suicide numbers during 2020 amongst WC learners. We therefore support a differentiated approach to reopen schools for the well-being of all, which depends on a school’s readiness to reopen.

Along with encouraging learners to use the Safe Schools hotline at 0800 45 46 47, during this time for psychosocial support, as Chairperson of the SC of Education, I will invite the WCED to discuss the topic of learner well-being amidst the pandemic in terms of;

• The increase and pattern of suicides;
• the efficacy of the helpline;
• other existing support interventions and;
• the impact of school closure and delays on the curriculum.

We will further and most importantly, monitor the safe reopening of school in terms of the readiness and availability of protective equipment and processes.

We have seen the devasting effects of the uncertain school year during 2020 and will use our oversight role to mitigate such negative effects as far as possible for the 2021 academic year.