Grade 9 pupils should return to school sooner, says Naptosa
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) believes grade 9 pupils should return to school sooner.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that all public schools will close their doors for 4 weeks as the country battles the peak of Covid-19 infections.
Grade 7 pupils have however only been given a two week break, while grade 12 pupils will only have a one week holiday in August.
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Naptosa President Basil Manuel says they believe grade 9 pupils should be return to school much sooner as they need to choose subjects.
“We are mystified by the grade 7s returning after two weeks. We would rather have the grade 9s, because grade 9s have to make life choices because of subjects.”
On Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that all public schools would temporarily remain closed for four weeks.
Cabinet’s decision came after mounting pressure from unions to close schools as the country heads towards the Covid-19 peak.
To date the country's total Covid-19 infections sit at 408 052 while the number of related deaths have reached 6093.