RCL message to fellow learners
9 April 2020
Stay at home and make use of available resources to continue learning. This is the message from the Provincial Representative Council of Learners (RCL) Forum’s executive committee to fellow learners during lockdown.
The learners collaborated in a series of videos to remind their peers that the restrictions imposed by authorities to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus should not limit their determination and drive to get a good education.
Allesio Marcus, RCL Forum Chairperson, urged learners to remain in their homes and educate themselves by supporting each other and exercising self discipline.
Allesio made a similar video for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament where he serves as Deputy Speaker. The Grade 11 learner at Beacon Hill High School in Mitchell’s Plain said the response from learners at his school was amazing and they thanked him for his leadership.
Stacey Langley, a Grade 10 learner at Weston High School in Vredenburg and the RCL Forum’s Vice Secretary, said she initially felt a bit stressed and worried about losing out on school work and was relieved to see that resources were made available to learners to do self study. Her advice to learners was to stay calm, join study groups and make use of the learning resources on the Western Cape Education Department’s ePortal, social media and on the internet. “Get a programme with the activities for the day and stick with it. Now you can use social media for the right reasons.”
Kubeshini Govender, the Provincial RCL Coordinator, said the initiative puts learner leadership at the forefront of accountability. She said children learn best from each other and positive peer support was vital at a time when social distancing could lead to learners feeling isolated. “It is encouraging to hear the voice of the learner coming through.”