This year will see the academic year for public schools in both inland and coastal provinces start and end on the same day, an arrangement started in 2024.
The new academic year will see learners return to school benches on Wednesday 15 January.
“We wish all learners the best for the new year,” said Charnel Hattingh, group head of communications and marketing at the Fidelity Services Group, “especially those who are going to school for the first time. We hope you enjoy every moment of it.
“Parents and caregivers are most certainly worried about their kids safely making it to school and back. There are, thankfully, personal security tips we believe parents can follow to make a difference in the safety of their children and to give everyone peace of mind. It boils down to making sure your children know exactly how to avoid possible danger, and also what they must do in case something bad happens to them.”
Hattingh recommended the following tips for parents and children to follow as the young ones return to school:
. Remember, your parents would never send someone you don’t know to fetch you. Never get into a stranger’s car even if they claim someone you love is hurt and they are supposed to pick you up. It is a good idea to consider using a password system to ensure the person collecting you is in fact a friend of your parents or someone you can trust.
. Children must always walk to or from school with a friend or friends. If your child walks alone, it’s a good idea to ask a teacher or other parents if they know of other children from the area who do the same. Some towns have started “walking buses”, where local parents volunteer to walk to and from school with a group of schoolchildren to assure their safety.
. Stick to streets you know and never take short cuts through unfamiliar or quiet areas.
. If you get picked up at school, always wait inside the grounds for your lift to arrive; do not leave the premises to look for them in the street.
. If a stranger approaches do not talk to them, no matter how friendly they may seem. If someone tries to grab you, fight, kick and scream that they are not your mom or dad.
In some cases, children will have to see themselves to and from school, and keep occupied until mom and dad return home in the evening.
“It is important that children know not to let anyone into the house without your permission,” said Hattingh. “If you are going to be late, let your children know as soon as possible and give them an idea of when they can expect you to be home.”
She suggested drawing up a list of important telephone numbers. “This list must include emergency services and mom and dad’s work and cellphone numbers. Save it on your child’s phone and stick it on or near the landline. It’s also important to explain to them when these should be used.”
Hattingh added that everyone in the household should also know how to use your home security system, children included, and when and how to use the panic buttons.
