By Alicia Mmashakana
The KwaZulu-Natal education department has issued guidelines for the management of schools during storms or flooding.
In the last week, the province has experienced continuous rain, which has led to localized flooding.
While there are currently no formal reports of damage to schools, the department has advised teachers and staff to exercise caution, especially as the rain is expected to let up anytime soon.
“It is imperative that schools and offices must adhere to specific guidelines in the event of extreme rainfall, wind or any other natural disaster which may threaten the lives of learners, teachers, and officials,” KZN education HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo said on Wednesday.
“It is significant to note that any damage to road infrastructure may render learners and educators unable to make their way to schools. This includes delivery of food items necessary for the feeding of learners.”
According to Ngcobo, principals were responsible for developing curriculum catch-up plans and ensuring that learners were always engaged, whether at home or at school.
The following guidelines were issued for principals, circuit managers and all other responsibility managers:
- School principals must always communicate with parents of learners to ensure that they take extra caution before sending their children to school in the morning.
- Should the situation be completely unfavourable, the principal is responsible for advising parents to keep their children at home.
- If learners are already at school, principals must observe the severity of the rainfall and decide either to keep them in school for their safety or immediately release them before the situation worsens.
- Any damage to school infrastructure or roads leading to the school, which affects learners and educators, must be reported immediately to the education department.
- Other responsibility managers must also advise staff members on the possible
safety precautions based on updated weather reports
According to the KwaZulu-Natal economic development, tourism and environmental affairs department, the eThekwini metro has been hit the hardest in terms of household destruction and people affected.
The SA Weather Service issued a level five warning for KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
“The department cannot afford to lose any lives due to flooding of bridges and destruction of offices or classrooms,” Ngcobo said.
INSIDE EDUCATION
