The federation's Deputy CEO, Jaco Deacon, tells OFM News they are, however, pleased the school followed all due protocols.

Deacon says it is pleasing that the school has followed standing operating procedures as per the Department of Education and that the Health Department's contact tracing and quarantine procedures have kicked in. OFM News yesterday reported that the 18-year-old learner, along with his family and 19 other learners who are hostel mates, have been quarantined.

Whilst the Free State Department of Education has confirmed that classes at the school will continue as normal, Deacon adds that it remains important for the overall schooling system to remain open.

"If we follow the advice of experts, we can see that we can expect more Covid-19 cases, especially during the colder times. So, we should not be taken aback if there are more cases reported at schools. I think the most important thing is that schools must follow all safety protocols. There are a few things that we should and can do to prevent it, but in a case of a positive result during the screening process, the protocol will dictate what the school should do. We do, however, think that the school system should remain open," explained Deacon.

He adds that besides teaching and learning, thousands of learners in the Free State and across the country also rely on the National School Nutrition Programme as their only source of food.

Deacon has also highlighted that they are rather pleased with the phasing in approach of schools' reopening by the Department and that most schools in the province indeed received Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whilst those in deeper rural areas received water tanks.

He says they will continue monitoring the progress.

OFM News