Western Cape schools ready to welcome pupils today

Picture: Tracey Adams/African News Agency (ANA)

Picture: Tracey Adams/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Jun 1, 2020

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Cape Town – The Western Cape will open its doors to learners today contrary to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s decision last night that they only report back on June 8.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) issued a statement last night that only 80% of schools were ready to receive learners.

The statement followed the 11th-hour cancellation of a much-anticipated live update by Motshekga on school readiness yesterday.

“The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) received a report from the consortium of service providers co-ordinated by the National Education Collaboration Trust on the External Evaluation and Monitoring of the state of readiness. 

Rand Water, as an Implementing Agent delivering water to 3500 schools, also presented its report.

“The Heads of Education Departments Committee also presented its technical report. All three reports converged on the fact that a substantial number of schools would not be ready for the reopening tomorrow (today), albeit tremendous progress had been made by most provinces, which overall reflected an 80% state of readiness.

“This whole coming week must be used for the proper orientation and training of teachers, the mopping and ramping of all supply chain matters, and final touches to the readiness of each facility for the arrival of learners.

“The date on which all learners have to report back to school is June 8, 2020,” the department said.

However, Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said Western Cape schools were “overwhelmingly ready”, including those that serve poor communities.

“We have been engaged in discussions at a national level over the weekend, and were awaiting the minister’s announcement that was scheduled for 6pm this evening (yesterday).

Given that this has now been postponed until tomorrow (today), we can no longer allow our schools to hover

in a state of uncertainty.

“Learners

have already begun to arrive at school

hostels, and parents have made preparations to take their children to school

tomorrow (today). 

“School staff and WCED officials

have been working around the clock

to ensure that all plans are in place

to receive those learners on time.

"Given these preparations, and the

enormous effort put in by teachers

and non-teaching staff alike, it would

be unfair to delay all schools from

reopening,” she said. 

Schäfer said there would also be

some schools that do not receive learners today, either because they were

not at a suitable state of readiness in

terms of safety protocols, or they were

closed for cleaning if there had been

a confirmed case of Covid-19 at the

school. 

“The week will be used primarily

for the orientation of learners into the

new Covid-19 safety and learning environment. There are also outstanding

issues that need to be finalised over

the coming week – including confirming a position on home-schooling

options – but these will not prevent

the majority of our Grade 7s and 12s

from returning,” she said. 

Teacher unions called Motshekga’s

previous decision to have schools reopen today a “mistake”. Grade 7s and

12s were expected back today in a

national phased reopening of schools. 

In a joint statement, Sadtu, Naptosa, the SAOU, PEU and Natu called

on Motshekga to retract her announcement.

They also called on their members

to stay home. 

Naptosa executive director Basil

Manuel said last night that schools

with all the personal protective equipment for staff may continue planning

and preparing, but the schooling system was not ready for learners. 

“They are not ready to return

whether we like it or not. We are

shocked by this untimely postponement. Schools that have everything,

PPEs, masks and so on for staff, can

return to start planning,” Manuel said. 

Some schools have said they aren’t

ready for the learners, including Imperial Primary School in Mitchells Plain.

It sent a circular to parents informing them they would not receive

learners today after two staff members

tested positive for Covid-19. 

“This now complicated the scheduling of the return of the Grade 7

learners on Monday, June 1. The entire

school building will be decontaminated at the earliest. 

"However, we will

not be able to receive our Grade 7

learners. At this point we are unable

to provide you with a set date for their

return as this will be communicated

via the class teacher,” the circular read. 

The SA Paediatric Association

(Sapa), meanwhile, said they were

in support of the decision to reopen

schools and allow learners back.

“There is uncertainty about the

future trajectory of Covid-19 in South

Africa, with more infections and a long

duration being predicted.

"Children

biologically contain Sars-CoV-2 better

than adults, are less likely to get sick if

infected, have milder disease and are

unlikely to die, and are probably less

infectious than adults. 

“Although children are at higher

risk of being infected once at school,

this additional risk to themselves and

others is outweighed by the benefits of

them returning to school.”

Cape Times

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