“This thing really bothering me because dem children just deh home whole day and I not there to see what dem doing. I have to work and try to catch me hand so is not more I could do because if I don’t work how I guh feed them?”
The words of a frustrated mother of four who leaves the home early in the morning and returns in the evening. Her children, like all other children in Guyana and many worldwide, have been home for the past few weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And like many parents, she is concerned that the children are not being gainfully occupied during the hours they should have been at school.
Owing to the pandemic, parents are now faced with teaching their children and in some cases where online classes are being held parents have to be around, firstly to ensure that the children are actually doing the work and secondly to guide them. It is a new struggle for parents, many of whom do not understand the work and others are still to navigate the whole virtual world, and it is also a struggle for the children. I decided to speak to a number of mothers who, like me, are facing the new challenge.
“You not even hearing from the schools,” she lamented. “Well I hear from the lil one school, we don’t have internet but when I go to work I does get online and the lil one teacher send some work on WhatsApp and, you know, I get to print it out so she get something to do. But nothing from the other teacher dem.
“I don’t want to like blame the teachers, but, you know, I wish dey could do more even call or something. I know some a dem must be don’t have internet and credit just like me but it really frustrating wah happening right now. We poor people children suffering because I sure dem who could afford it get things fuh dem children.”
At the time I was speaking to her on her mobile phone, she was making the long trek to her home.
“Is every day I have to walk all deh way to the road and then walk back because no bus ain’t working where I living. It long but at least a getting a good exercise,” she said with a small laugh.
“The other day I just leave some words for them to spell and when I go back home, I test dem. I is not no bright person or so, but I have to try because if not is whole day dem watching TV and nothing else. I know is fuh we own good that dey have to be at home, but I worried like what will happen to dem with dey schooling.
“And is not only that, is like dem children belly growing because is everything finishing in de house and I don’t have money. I thought, you know, I don’t have to find money to send dem to school that things would be better. But not at all, all de money going to food and is still like we don’t have enough.
“But in all I just thank God because I still alive and I have a work to go to, some people right now don’t have any,” the sister told me before indicating that she had almost reached her house and had to tend to the children.
I caught up with another sister in an electronic store as she was about to buy a cable for her child’s electronic device. I knew it was for her child from the exchange she had with the store clerk. She indicated that she really needed it for her child to log into her classroom work on the internet.
I commented to her that we were all going through the struggle of getting our children into the virtual learning phase.
“I don’t really find it that hard you know because I at home and when you see I open me mouth on them you better know they know what time it is. Is two a them I get and I pushing through with them. The little one, well I does give her work and she have to sit down and do it because if not she know is lashes coming,” she told me.
“I know people does say not to beat and all them things but lashes have to come if they not following the order.
“I just happy that we have internet and you know the big one is getting work and I around to see what is happening and I just doing what I have to do. Is everybody worldwide dealing with this COVID-19, so we just have to adjust,” she said in a matter of fact tone.
As I listened to this sister I must say I was almost envious at how she seemed to have things under control because I am sure I am not the only one who is still struggling with getting on top of this whole e-learning system.
As another sister told me, at the end of the day she feels mentally and physically drained.
“I have two of them and you could imagine they both have classes at the same time, so it is two devices. I had to take my annual vacation and right now I am just hoping that it would be enough. I am very fearful about what will happen if I have to return to work and schools have not been re-opened,” the sister told me.
“What I do is, I wake everybody up like is a normal school day so we all can get into the frame of mind that it is a day of action. They have their baths and breakfast and everything before it is time for class, and I prepare lunch as if we are leaving the house.
“Then I spent almost all of the other hours before afternoon, back and forth between the two, ensuring that they are involved and are completing the work. Many times, I have to try and teach them so they can understand. So, by afternoon, I just want to collapse.
“I don’t want it to sound as if I am complaining because I have so much to be thankful for because I know some parents and children are not getting any schoolwork done because of the lack of internet. But I don’t find it easy. This is all new to me and sometimes I feel drained at other times I am scared for my children. It is also confusing at times,” she said candidly.
I understood where this sister was coming from and I am sure many of us have felt the same way at some point during this period. These are really unprecedented times and I often spare a thought for the children who have no access to online classes and whose parents are ill equipped to teach them. I wonder what will ultimately happen to them.
As parents we need to understand that we can never take the role of a teacher but should do what we can. Our children are going to get back on stream once the classrooms are reopened but, in the meantime, let us not only focus on their learning but also continue to instill good values and assist them maintaining manners at home.
To teachers, as much as you can, reach out to your students. I know it means going way beyond your mandate, even if it is just for them to hear your voice and to encourage them to adhere to whatever little learning their parents can give them. These unprecedented times will take a toll on our children and we as adults have to do our part to ensure that they navigate them. We just have to do what we need to and can do during this time. It is a novel time for all us and none of us will get it right all the time. Let us just do our best.
