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Africa Educates Her Campaign-Angola. Day 17

Schools have been closed since early March for 15 million students. The African continent has taken the first tentative steps out of its Covid-19 measures but there is uncertainty about when classrooms will be able to reopen safely. That has led to fears of increased numbers of girls dropping out of education. 

For this reason we are running this amazing campaign in order to get girls back to school. 

Today we have Ivete José in our program. We found her in the street, it was nice to talk to her. She will share with us her experiences during lock-down.

Ivete is a 9-year-old girl. She says that coronavirus affected her negatively. She misses school, classmates and teacher.

Despite the circumstances, she doesn't give up. In her free time she solves the fascicle exercises that the school is offering for students to study at home.

According to her, the government and education agents must create strict biosecurity measures, control social distancing, divide the class into small groups, put buckets of water for hand washing. Victoria told us that her classroom is composed of 60 students, at this time the teachers must compulsorily divide the class into small groups.

 "When girls are in school, they are busy and their minds are doing something. But this pandemic has delayed the girls studying and acquiring knowledge."

Distribution of school material

What schools can do?

To stay safe, there are a number of steps schools should take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include:

Physical distancing. The goal for students and adults is to stay at least 6 feet apart to help prevent the spread of the virus. However, research has found that spacing desks at least 3 feet apart and avoiding close contact may have similar benefits--especially if students wear cloth face coverings and do not have symptoms of illness. Teachers and staff should stay 6 feet apart from other adults and from students when possible. Teachers and staff should also wear cloth face coverings, limit in-person meetings with other adults and avoid areas such as staff lounges.

When possible, schools should use outdoor spaces and unused spaces for instruction and meals to help with distancing. For example, activities like singing, band and exercising are safest outdoors and spread out.

Classroom changes. To help limit student interaction outside the classroom, schools should consider:

• Having teachers move between classrooms, rather than having students fill the hallways during passing periods.

• Allowing students to eat lunches at their desks or in small groups outdoors instead of in crowded lunchrooms.

• Leaving classroom doors open to help reduce high touch surfaces such as doorknobs.

Testing & temperature checks. The CDC currently does not recommend COVID testing of students and staff​. Testing only shows whether a person is infected at that specific moment in time and may not be useful in preventing outbreaks in school communities. Taking students' temperatures at school may also not be feasible, but you can monitor your children's health at home and keep them home if they are not feeling well. Schools should frequently remind students, teachers, and staff to stay home if they have a fever of 100.4 degrees F or greater or have any signs of illness.

Why students should go back to school–when it​ is safe

​Schools provide more than just academics to children and adolescents. In addition to reading, writing and math, students learn social and emotional skills, get exercise, and have access to mental health support and other services that cannot be provided with online learning. For many children and adolescents, schools are safe places to be while parents or guardians are working. For many families, schools are where kids get healthy meals, access to the internet and other vital services.

Do not miss this opportunity to bring girl's back to school, please join us!

Share your experiences learning/teaching during the school closures & the projects or initiatives you've launched to get girls back to school post #COVID19 in your local communities.

#AfricaEducatesHer

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