Resumption of schooling cannot compromise health of pupils & teachers, warn unions
The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) and National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says the Department of Basic Education needs to prioritise the health of pupils and teachers when schools reopen on Monday.
Schools across the country will open their doors for the new term on Monday just as South Africa looks to have passed the peak of the third wave of infections.
Full classes are due to resume on August 2.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Saturday said the department is ready to go back to school from Monday, should President Cyril Ramaphosa give the green light.
Naptosa’s Basil Manuel says while they are happy about the resumption of schooling, there is still confusion around the issue of social distancing.
“As Naptosa, we always supported the reopening of schools. We always believed that it is in the interest not only of the children but of children in general. However, we also said we want to see the health and safety measures all taken care of and this leaves us with a little bit of concern at the moment, because of the large number of schools that are overcrowded.
“There is a little bit of confusion in terms of social distancing. The minister spoke on national television about 1,5 meters, but in the provincial meetings we hear one meter. So we are waiting to see what the NCCC has agreed on.
Manuel warns schools can only reopen once all safety measures have been put in place.
“We are positive that the schools will be functional and if every teacher abides by the standard operating procedures and safety measures then everything should be okay.”
Sadtu general-secretary Mugwena Maluleke echoed the sentiment, saying schools should only open once there is a final safety plan in place.
“The president when he was addressing the nation. He made it very clear that at no stage will you compromise social distance and that is what we are telling the department that by the day of reopening, if there is no plan to ensure that social distancing is not compromised, then they will have to rethink of that particular plan.
“So the department needs to ensure that all non-pharmaceutical interventions are adhered to and that means additional resources to ensure that the safety is not compromised.”
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