Final school reopening dates to be announced on Thursday

Published May 13, 2020

Share

DURBAN – Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to announce final dates for the schools reopening on Thursday, May 14. The minister is expected to provide details on the various restrictions the department and schools will adhere to. Cabinet has meetings scheduled for this week as is expected to discuss a recovery plan for the education sector.

The Basic Education department said: “These consultative sessions happened ahead of the minister’s return to the National Coronavirus Command Council set to take place on Tuesday, May 12. The cabinet is also scheduled to sit on Wednesday where it is expected that the Recovery Plan of the Education Sector will also be discussed.”

Majority of the parents are unhappy with the decision to reopen schools as they feel that would be putting their children at a higher risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus. These parents are considering homeschooling or remote schooling their children for the rest of the year. South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, Sadtu, is also not happy with the decision to reopen schools have advised their teachers to stay home.

In a media statement, Sadtu’s secretariat officer Xolani Fakude said: "We call on our members who were to travel from various provinces to remain safe in their homes until the amendment of the regulations by the competent authority as requested by teacher unions. Our members and workers cannot be subjected to this emotional torture caused by a lack of communication by the Department.

"These non-negotiables included, among others, the fumigation and disinfection of schools, proper school infrastructure in the form of proper toilet facilities, observance of social distancing inside the classrooms and in courtyards, reduction of class sizes, provision of soap, sanitisers and masks, screening of learners, teachers and support personnel, social distancing in the transportation of learners to and from schools, provision of psychosocial services to assist learners as well as teachers to build resilience and calm down fears among learners and teachers,"

For LIVE updates on the Coronavirus pandemic, follow us on Twitter : @sacoronamonitor

CORONAVIRUS MONITOR

Related Topics:

Covid-19