Union lauds Motshekga as 3 grades return to school

The Department of Basic Education announced on Thursday that only pupils in grades 6, 11, and R will be back in class on Monday.

Other grades will be phased during the month of July.

Naptosa president Basil Manuel says the minister promised not to force the issue amid the surge in Covid-19 infections around the country, as has kept her word.

"Naptosa has never advocated for the closure of schools. We have always said the safest place for learners for many reasons is at schools.

“However, we saw the surge in infections and we are still going to check that the schools are ready for the three grades," says Manuel.

Manuel says the department must be ready to close schools should there be a need.

Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Education Department has announced that the Grade R pupils in the province will no longer be returning to classes on Monday.

The announcement was made by the province's Education Department and comes following meetings between the Council of Education Ministers, education officials and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

During the sitting, reports delivered by various provinces were taken into consideration.

Initially, the amendment was that Grades R, 6, and 11 will return to classes on Monday. However, KZN will now only see Grades 6 and 11 go back.

The latest development comes as the KZN Parent Association's Vee Gani says there are still many challenges that need to be addressed.

"I think some schools have a problem because they don't have a PPE and they need to get that ready. So some schools will not be ready to actually welcome the grades as the department as envisaged would happen.”

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