Back to School 2021 (for real this time)
28 January 2021 · 4 min · as at 2021-01-28
Gavin (intro voice or played clip) · Jacqueline Aitchison (host) · Gershom Aitchison (host)
Listen to the episode on iono.fm · MP3
Episode analysis
Analysis by AI, drawn only from this episode; every point links to the moment it rests on.
In a short update, Gavin speaks with Edu Inc's Headmaster and Executive Head. Edu Inc is a mainstream independent school in Fourways, Johannesburg, writing the IEB for Grades 4 to 12. The episode confirms that pupils return to campus from 1 February 2021. The Headmaster explains the context: the Department of Education required schools to postpone opening by two weeks. The Executive Head then goes through the practical rules for the return. These cover daily wet wipes and tissues, phones, devices by grade, lockers, and the restart of some clubs.
Key ideas
- The Headmaster explains that the Department of Education gazetted a two-week postponement. Once that period ends, Edu Inc can bring children back on 1 February, as most independent schools plan to do. [01:02]▸ [01:11]▸ [01:18]▸
- The Executive Head stresses strict safety protocols. Children must carry wet wipes and tissues in hand at arrival for the temperature check and foot bath. [01:26]▸ [01:26]▸ [01:42]▸
- Phones are not allowed. Applications for exceptions are considered only for transport reasons, such as children who Uber home. [02:08]▸ [02:08]▸
- Device rules differ by grade. Grades 4 to 7 bring no devices unless they have a specific concession. Grades 8 to 12 may bring laptops, used as teachers direct. [02:23]▸ [02:33]▸
- Lockers stay empty to keep things clean and safe. Some clubs, including TED Club and Robotics, restart. [02:42]▸ [02:48]▸
Lessons
- The Executive Head asks parents to make sure wet wipes and tissues are in the child's hand at arrival. Children who forget them will be sent to fetch them. [01:42]▸ [01:53]▸ [01:53]▸
- Parents of Grades 4 to 7 should keep laptops and iPads at home unless a concession applies. Grades 8 to 12 can bring laptops. [02:23]▸ [02:33]▸
- Phones stay at home unless parents apply on transport grounds, according to the Executive Head. [02:08]▸
Who it's for
Parents and pupils of Edu Inc preparing for the return to campus on 1 February 2021. They need the rules on hygiene items, phones, devices, lockers and clubs.
Facts stated in the episode
- Edu Inc pupils return to campus from 1 February 2021. [01:11]▸
- The Department of Education's gazetted wording required schools to postpone opening by two weeks. [01:02]▸
- Grades 4 to 7 may not bring devices onto campus unless they have a specific concession. [02:23]▸
- Grades 8 to 12 may bring laptops back to school. [02:33]▸
- TED Club and Robotics are restarting. [02:48]▸
Questions this episode answers
- When do Edu Inc pupils go back to campus in 2021?The Headmaster says the two-week postponement ends at the end of that week, so children can return to campus from 1 February. [01:11]▸
- Why was the school opening delayed in early 2021?The Headmaster says the Department of Education gazetted opening dates that required schools to postpone opening by two weeks. [01:02]▸
- What hygiene items do children need to bring to Edu Inc?Wet wipes and tissues, every day. The Executive Head wants them in the child's hand at arrival for the temperature check and foot bath. Children who forget them must go and fetch them. [01:26]▸ [01:42]▸ [01:53]▸
- Can children bring their phones to school?No. The only applications the school will consider are for transport reasons, such as children who have to Uber home. [02:08]▸
- Can pupils bring laptops or iPads?Grades 4 to 7 may bring no devices unless they have a specific concession. Grades 8 to 12 may bring laptops and will use them as their teachers direct. [02:23]▸ [02:33]▸
- Will pupils use their lockers?No. The Executive Head says lockers will be kept empty to keep things clean and safe. [02:42]▸
- Are any clubs starting again?Yes. TED Club and Robotics will start, probably with a few more to follow, according to the Executive Head. [02:48]▸
In their own words
Longer stretches of the conversation, word for word from the transcript, turn by turn.
Housekeeping rules for the return to campus
Note (AI): Sets out in one place the practical rules parents and pupils need for the first day back: hygiene items, phones, devices by grade, lockers and clubs.
Jacqueline Aitchison, host · [01:22]So some housekeeping involved in getting back on campus on Monday. We obviously are going to be very stringent about our safety protocols, so a reminder to everyone that the wet wipes and the tissues that the children need to be bringing on a daily basis are back in action. And to prevent any issues with that, we would like the children to have those wet wipes and tissues in …
Read the full passage (332 words, 01:22-02:57)
Jacqueline Aitchison, host · [01:22]So some housekeeping involved in getting back on campus on Monday. We obviously are going to be very stringent about our safety protocols, so a reminder to everyone that the wet wipes and the tissues that the children need to be bringing on a daily basis are back in action. And to prevent any issues with that, we would like the children to have those wet wipes and tissues in their hand when they arrive at school, when they have their temperature checks done and walk through the foot bath so that Mr. G can see that they haven't left them at home. If they have left them at home, they will have to go and fetch them. So please make sure that those are in the children's hands in a bag when they arrive at school. The second one is going back to the, the, the first podcast we did of the year when we thought we were going back for the first time. No phones. Children, no phones. There is an application form that your parents can fill in. The only applications we'll look at are those for transport reasons, children who have to Uber home. As far as the rest of the tech goes, for grades four to seven, no devices whatsoever should be brought onto the campus. No laptops, no iPads, et cetera, unless it relates to a specific concession that you have. From grades eight to twelve, you can bring your laptops back to school with you. You will be directed by your teachers as to how and when you will be using those. The learners will not be using their lockers. We need to continue to keep these empty just to keep things clean and safe. But the very good news is some of the clubs will be starting again. TED Club will start, Robotics will start, and probably a few more, and we'll let you know about those clubs that are starting up from Monday.
Quotes
“like most independent schools, we are planning to do that.”
“We obviously are going to be very stringent about our safety protocols,”
“If they have left them at home, they will have to go and fetch them.”
“No phones. Children, no phones. There is an application form that your parents can fill in.”
“Back to school 2021 for real this time.”
“They're very excited to have that face-to-face contact with their kids again.”
What was said, by topic
School opening dates
“after re-evaluating and in light of all the rulings and confusion that's cleared up, independent schools will all be open from Monday with all children back on campus.”
“The Department of Education gazetted the opening dates for schools, and the wording was that schools would need to postpone their opening by two weeks.”
“Two weeks are up for us at the end of this week, and it means we can bring children back on campus from the 1st of February, and like most independent schools, we are planning to do that.”
Return to campus
“It was very good seeing them on the Monday when they came to collect stuff and get ready for schooling from home, and we're really looking forward to having them back on campus again.”
“I know the teachers are very excited to see their students. They're very excited to have that face-to-face contact with their kids again.”
Safety protocols
“We obviously are going to be very stringent about our safety protocols, so a reminder to everyone that the wet wipes and the tissues that the children need to be bringing on a daily basis are back in action.”
“we would like the children to have those wet wipes and tissues in their hand when they arrive at school, when they have their temperature checks done and walk through the foot bath so that Mr. G can see that they haven't left them at home.”
“If they have left them at home, they will have to go and fetch them.”
“The learners will not be using their lockers. We need to continue to keep these empty just to keep things clean and safe.”
Phone and device rules
“No phones. Children, no phones. There is an application form that your parents can fill in. The only applications we'll look at are those for transport reasons, children who have to Uber home.”
“for grades four to seven, no devices whatsoever should be brought onto the campus. No laptops, no iPads, et cetera, unless it relates to a specific concession that you have.”
“From grades eight to twelve, you can bring your laptops back to school with you. You will be directed by your teachers as to how and when you will be using those.”
Clubs restarting
“But the very good news is some of the clubs will be starting again. TED Club will start, Robotics will start, and probably a few more,”
Episode notes (as published)
From the episode notes published with the podcast.
Our pupils are back on campus from Monday 1 Feb 2021 and we can't wait to see you all again! Today's very short episode has more info from Headmaster Mr. Aitchison and Executive Head Mrs. Aitchison. Edu Inc website · Facebook (Public) · Facebook (closed group) · Twitter (closed group) · YouTube · Review us on Google
Every quotation and passage on this page is copied word for word from the episode audio transcript and linked to the moment it was said. Quotations are never written or altered by AI; topic labels, passage notes and the episode analysis are AI-generated. Guest details come from the published episode notes or the guest's own words.