The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has launched a poetry competition with the theme My Covid Journey.
Debbie Schäfer, Western Cape MEC for Education, said the competition is being held in celebration of International School Library Month that took place in October.
By entering into the poetry competition learners can win R25 000 for their school to spend on resources for their library. Last year the WCED also held a school library competition with the theme My Octopus Teacher.
“I have been particularly struck by the resilience of our learners despite the changing learning environment, and despite the personal tragedies that so many have experienced as a result of the pandemic. We need to recognise this impact, and also provide an opportunity for learners to express how they are feeling about it, to help them to heal from the mental and emotional trauma it has caused them.
“It is my hope that all of our schools will participate in this exercise, regardless of whether they win a prize or not, because it is immensely valuable to touch base with their learners about how they are coping at the moment,” says Schäfer.
Six schools will be awarded a prize of R25 000 each to spend on library resources – three secondary schools and three primary schools for winning entries in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. Each school can collate as many poems from the learners at their school as they like, to form a single entry for submission.
The department has provided a few guidelines to help learners when writing their poems:
. How do you feel about the Covid-19 pandemic?
. How has it affected you and your school?
. How has it affected your family and friends?
. How do we move forward from here and how can your school library help?
The competition closes on 30 November. Any school interested in entering can contact Timothy Cloete from Education Library and Information Services via email at timothy.cloete@westerncape.gov.za.
