Vox pop

Lucy Mogotsi – People’s Primary School

The good thing is that at least the safety of the learners is taken in consideration since school will be closed for part of winter because it's normally very dark when learners walk to school. The bad thing is that to teach for six months without at least a full week off will be exhausting for both learners and teachers. The two or three days in between will not make a difference at all.

Kwandu Samuel - Principal of Zealous Tutorial Centre in Rundu

The new semester approach has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is learners will now be fully engaged in terms of their studies as they will only have one break. The disadvantage of course is the opposite of that because three breaks usually helped learners in this regard.

Thomas Ndipanda, teacher at Epako High School

I think the two-term academic calendar will lead to a lack of quality assessment. Learners will be assessed only twice a year and not three times as in the past. Hence, learners will not be able to thoroughly prepare and know whether they are keeping up with the work and understand the work.

But on the other hand, a two-term academic calendar can also help or prevent the closure of schools due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, which usually rises during winter.

Shannon Louw - Otjiwarongo SS

It will be a challenge for me as a teacher to revise the whole year planner and scheme of work, as I was used to doing it in terms. However, I don't think the teaching itself will be affected. As soon as the planning is sorted, we can run with the academics. It will also not be too much of a challenge to revise my planning. I think I just need to sit down and do it.

Suri Uises

Moving from a trimester-based system to a semester system might have both pros and cons. In the latter, the teacher and the learners have enough time to cover the subject content at the learner’s pace. There should be goals and targets that need to be achieved for both approaches during the said period. Obviously, one now has to cover half of the syllabus in one semester, hopefully with no rush. The learners will have enough time to assimilate the subject content. It will be very beneficial for the learners who have lost so much teaching and learning time with the Covid-19 pandemic. The only disadvantage might be the long holidays (six weeks). We already have this system at tertiary institutions, it only needs to start and all else will fall into place.

Janine Diergaardt, life skills teacher Keetmanshoop Secondary School

I think it's one of the greatest decisions to be taken, especially during a time such as this with the Covid-19 pandemic still very real. It allows teachers to plan their work and plan for the year. The two terms allow learners to be home for most of the winter season, decreasing the opening and closure of schools due to infections. A two-term academic year also provides a more consistent and structured environment especially for learners with a less than desirable home life. It also allows them to be at school more than they are at home, making sure that safety at school is always guaranteed.