Resumption of classes: Schools begin to block access to journalists – CARTA

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Resumption of classes: Schools begin to block access to journalists – CARTA

3:43 CAT | 10 Jul 2020

FILE PHOTO: For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Miramar]

With the return to school of Grade 12 pupils scheduled by the Council of Ministers for the 27th of this month, “Carta” visited a number of primary schools in Maputo to find out about preparations and the conditions that will be offered to students if and when the government extends the go-ahead to the other grades.

However, against all expectations, our reporting team was “prevented” from accessing some schools on the grounds that it should present a credential issued by the Education Department of the City of Maputo, authorising any such journalistic work.

Our first such experience was at the Kurula Primary School in Maxaquene “D”, where we were welcomed by the Pedagogical Director who, without identifying herself, said she had “a lot to say, because things are not going very well”, but that she was not authorised to speak to journalists. Not only did the director not have any such permission, she also prevented us from walking around the schoolyard.

Denied our first visit, we proceeded to the Unidade 25 Primary School in the same neighbourhood, close to the Clube 1 de Maio sports field, where we were received by the School Director after a 20 minute wait. In response to our presentation, the school manager professed himself willing to cooperate, but only “upon presentation of a credential issued at the district headquarters”.

A few minutes later, however, he said: “We don’t really know what will happen in our schools once the children return. The more mature ones may know how to manage themselves, but it is much more difficult to work with the younger ones. It could be chaos, and I believe cases of Covid-19 could increase with the return to school.”

Nonetheless, the source declined to be identified and prevented us from entering the institution, reiterating that he would only talk to us on presentation of the said credential.

We then went to the FPLM Primary School, located on the avenida of the same name near the Praça dos Heróis de Moçambique. It was almost 10 a.m. when we arrived. At first glance, we realized that the school had no minimum security conditions, because the height of the wall allows children to enter and exit without using the main gate, making it difficult to control their comings and goings.

At the entrance, we found a guard who likewise prevented us from entering, claiming that those in charge were absent.

So we went to the Maguiguana Complete Primary School, near Compone Market, also in Maxaquene. Here, the guard let us in to speak with the Pedagogical Director, Eduardo Armando Machava. However, while we were still introducing ourselves, he interrupted, saying that the school was being prepared: cleaning was underway, but he could not give any more details, let alone allow us to tour the school, because the district administration did not authorise them to grant interviews.

However, during this adventure, something called our attention: the fact that most of the schools visited have a cistern, which makes it possible to conserve water. We also found, at the entrance, a 25-litre bucket of water and soap for washing hands.

We contacted the spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH), Gina Guibunda, to find out if there was a blanket directive to block the entry of journalists. The reply was that the Ministry had no power to interfere in school decisions, because all orders were given to the provincial directorates which, in turn, transmitted them to the their [district] representatives.

In the meantime, she said, in the case of all schools in need of basic interventions, MINEDH was working in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources.

“Schools must prepare. The ministry is sending direct support to schools (ADE) in all districts, which does not go through the provincial directorates. This should be used to purchase Covid-19 protection equipment. As for the pedagogical side, schools will be notified of adjustments to the curriculum,” Guibuda explained.

By Marta Afonso

Source: Carta de Moçambique