‘Teachers lost their houses, cars’ – private schools welcome reopening news
National Alliance of Independent Schools Association (NAISA) has welcomed the latest regulations on the reopening of schools that stipulate that independent and private schools may open on February 1.
“We’ve got teachers who lost their housing, who lost their cars, even their life insurances because there was no salary coming in.”
NAISA President Mandla Mthembu says teachers would have faced financial crisis if private and independent schools remained shut.
The latest regulations stipulate that these institutions may welcome pupils to classrooms on February 1.
ALSO READ: Private school pupils can return on 1 Feb
Mthembu says while public sector schools remain closed, teachers continue to receive their salaries.
It’s not the case with the private sector.
"We are very happy with the news and the fact that the department has been sensitive to the plight of independent schools. They are aware that many of our schools have been under threat of closure and, some of our teachers have been retrenched because parents don't pay when we are closed.”
Mthembu said private and independent schools account for 5% of pupils in the schooling system and the numbers do not pose a risk of overwhelming the healthcare system.
