COVID-19: Sending our children safely back to school

Join us for a free live webinar facilitated by Claire Mawisa
Sending our children safely back to school

For many parents, deciding on whether to send children back to school in the coming weeks and months, may be agonising. On one hand, it’s important to provide access to schools as soon as possible. On the other, concerns around about children’s health and wellbeing in the context of COVID-19, and the ripple effects their return to school on their families and communities. Many parents are grappling with questions such as:

  • What does the COVID-19 pandemic mean for my child, their wellbeing and education?
  • What key information should guide my decisions around sending my child back to school?
  • How could returning to school affect my child’s physical and mental health?
  • How are South African schools preparing to safely receive learners?
  • What will these processes mean for my child, day-to-day?

Register for our webinar today and reserve your spot to hear from a panel of top minds in the fields of children’s physical and mental health. The focus of the discussion will be to share insights to help your decision-making and to guard the best interests of your children.

Join us for a free, live-hosted webinar hosted by Claire Mawisa

Topic: “COVID-19: Sending our children safely back to school”

Date: Wed 3 June 2020

Time: 12:00-13h15

Register now

Our host

Claire Mawisa

With a media career that spans 26 years, Claire is a seasoned broadcaster with extensive experience in the television and radio sectors. After a successful modelling career Claire hosted various television shows across several channels. She’s also built a career in radioboth on and off the microphone, at stations such as YFM, Metro FM, Radio 2000, Kaya FM and Classic FM. In 2015 Claire joined the Carte Blanche team as an investigative journalist. She was appointed a WWF South Africa Ambassador in October 2018, appointed a Board Member for RX Radio in October 2019 and a Board Member for Ibis Reproductive Health in December 2019.

Our panel of experts

Paediatric Pulmonologist Prof. Refiloe Masekela

Prof. Refiloe Masekela is Head of Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, at the University of KwaZulu Natal. She has published in peer-reviewed publications and has written three book chapters on respiratory diseases in children. She is an NRF C3 rated researcher, the Vice President of the Pan African Thoracic Society and a member of the European Respiratory Society Global Lung Initiative Network of Clinical Research Collaboration committee. She is also a member of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society Diagnostic Working Group as the African representative. She is an executive member of the South African Thoracic Society and the South African Cystic Fibrosis Scientific Committee and is a past chairperson of the South African National Asthma Education Programme.

Education specialist, Prof. Mary Metcalfe

Prof. Mary Metcalfe has worked in education since 1974. She lectured at JCE and Wits from 1982 to 1994. From 1994 to 2004 she served as Gauteng MEC for Education and then for Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Land Affairs. She headed the Wits School of Education from 2005 to 2009 before joining the Department of Higher Education and Training as Director General in 2009. She is currently the Director: Education Change at PILO which, has piloted-at-scale a model for education system improvement that is currently being implemented in just under 6000 schools nationwide.

Executive Head of Redhill School, Joseph Gerassi

Joseph Gerassi has worked in education for the past 31 years. He believes that through constant re-imagining and re-examination of education best practice, he is able to give his students the very best in education. His focus is on providing his students with a holistic academic perspective and also on instilling the courage and skills required to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Educational Psychologist, Dr Gloria Marsay

Dr Gloria Marsay began her career as a teacher and later studied psychology. She is a registered Educational Psychologist working in private practice and also a consultant to schools. She is a Research Fellow at the University of the Free State and a member of an international research network studying social and emotional learning skills. Dr Marsay is a published author and has developed the “Hope for Sustainable Livelihood” programme to assist people to enter the world of work.

Principal Clinical Specialist and Head of Research at Discovery Vitality, Paediatrician - Dr Deepak Patel

Dr Deepak Patel obtained his undergraduate medical degree and his postgraduate paediatric qualifications from Wits University. In addition to his medical qualifications, he has an Honours Degree in Development Studies from Wits University and a Masters in Sports Medicine from the University of Cape Town. Dr Patel has also held a research fellowship at the Mineral Metabolism Research unit of the MRC. He leads and coordinates various research projects and collaborations at Vitality. He has a particular interest in the application of behavioural economics in health promotion.

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