Most schools reopened nationwide on Monday amid strict regulations, but the vast majority of parents are still bitterly concerned about returning their crown.
It was found in an online survey conducted by technology company CompariSure among thousands of users (and parents) of its platform.
Matric and Gr. 7 pupils reported back to the schools this week after about three months of restriction at home. The pupils in other grades will also be returning to the schools soon.
According to the survey, less than a fifth of parents are comfortable sending their children back to school.
The firm asked users of its platform – on which to compare different life insurance options – a simple question: On a scale of 1 to 5, how comfortable are you with sending your child back to school?
A total of 10.8% of respondents indicated that they were very comfortable with it, while 6.7% said they were only comfortable with it, 8.1% felt neutral and over 70% were either concerned or very concerned about the prospect.
Matt Kloos, CFO of CompariSure, thinks parents aren’t necessarily worried that their children will get sick of the coronavirus themselves, but rather that they will become spreaders of the virus.
“This is understandable, especially because Covid-19 is so deadly among older people and there are many households where grandparents live with schoolchildren.”
Dozens of schools had to close their doors again within days of being reopened due to coronavirus cases.
This includes 20 schools in the Eastern Cape and one in Mossel Bay.
