KNYSNA NEWS - As the coronavirus continues to spread through the country and schools have been forced to close their doors, high schools in Plettenberg Bay and Knysna are taking innovative approaches to ensure that classes continue.

With WhatsApp a common trend among a few schools, the various courses of action implemented by the schools in the region come after president Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that strict measures would be implemented to reduce the spread of the virus – including the closure of all schools from 18 March to potentially 14 April, after the Easter weekend.

This is however not a fixed return date, as the school break could be extended to curb the spread even further depending on how the situation unfolds.

Even though this early break means that school days from the first and potentially second terms will be lost,

the Department of Basic Education has made provision by taking away days from other holiday periods during the year. According to an address by minister of basic education Angie Motshekga during the ministerial briefing on Monday 16 March, they have taken seven days off the June/July holiday as well as three days off the September holiday in order to compensate for the current loss of school days.

These changes to the school calendar does not mean schools are simply resting on their laurels, however. Some schools will be making use of online teaching methods while others have found ways to give learners tasks and test papers to take home with them for the break.

Oakhill College

At Oakhill, the school has long had online classes, courses, and systems in place for its learners and teachers, and it will continue to implement these during the break while having also given out prescribed working materials.

Knysna Montessori School

Luckily for Montessori, the break falls roughly within what its usual prescribed break would've been, hence learners won't need to do additional work during the holiday. The school does, however, have "fail-safes" and contingency plans in place for if the break is extended, with learning options available online for its learners and teachers.

Keurbosch School

All students received training in using an online teaching platform prior to the break. This will enable teachers and students to meet in an "online classroom" from their homes.

Greenwood Bay College

GBC's students have also been trained in the use of online platforms, and will further roll out the systems during the break, while communication lines have been set up between teachers and learners.

Concordia High School

Concordia will not be implementing any form of online classes or learning, as not all of its learners have access to Wi-Fi facilities. Therefore, the school has set up class WhatsApp groups where teachers and learners will communicate on a daily basis. The school has also given its learners physical work material to take home and work through (which will be checked on the WhatsApp groups).

Knysna Secondary School

Knysna Sec will be doing much the same, having also set up lines of communication between learners and teachers via WhatsApp and giving its learners prescribed materials. It has also handed out past examination papers for them to work through during the holiday.

Percy Mdala High School

Percy Mdala will also be working with its learners through WhatsApp, and has also handed out work materials. Teachers and learners will check in with each other on a daily basis. They have also set up email addresses specifically for this break, which they will use for the exchange of materials.

Plettenberg Bay Secondary School

Plett Sec is another one of the schools that has handed out prescribed working materials to its learners, and will ensure communication between teachers and learners via previously set-up WhatsApp groups.

Hoërskool Wittedrift

Hoërskool Wittedrift had begun adjusting its examination timetables once it caught word of Covid-19 possibly affecting schools in SA. Therefore its learners have caught up on examinations, but the school does also have contingency plans in place for if the break is extended.

Knysna High School had not shared their plans by the time of going to print.

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