Source: South Africa News Agency
School safety will come under the microscope when Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and MECs meet to discuss matters affecting the sector this week.
Also expected to be deliberated on is the possibility of primary school learners returning to classes on a full-time basis and the impact COVID-19 has had on the sector.
This as the Department of Basic Education (DBE) declared its readiness to welcome back teachers, staff and learners back to school for the second term in 2021 that commences today.
Motshekga, Deputy Minister Dr Makgabo Reginah Mhaule and all education MECs will on Thursday and Friday hold a two-day meeting to deliberate on key issues affecting the basic education sector.
We re glad common sense prevailed Sowetan > By Sowetan - 19 January 2021 - 07:09
It was reckless of some private schools to remain open after the basic education department issued a directive to shut down until next month.
Deputy minister of basic education Makgabo Reginah Mhaule announced on Friday that they had decided to delay the reopening of schools after considering the pressure being experience by the health-care system. We also welcomed the move on this page yesterday, as a possible outbreak at schools could put more strain on already overburdened health facilities.
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Wise to keep schools closed for now Sowetan > By Sowetan - 18 January 2021 - 08:30
The decision to delay the opening of schools is welcome as health facilities are overburdened and will not be able to take in more patients in case of outbreaks at schools.
The basic education department announced on Friday that the school reopening would be delayed by two weeks. Given the pressure experienced by the health system in the past few weeks, occasioned by increased Covid-19 infections which have led to the second wave, the council of education ministers in conjunction with the national coronavirus command council and cabinet have taken the decision to delay the reopening of both public and private schools by two weeks. This includes private schools that have already reopened,” said deputy basic education minister Makgabo Reginah Mhaule.
18 January 2021 - 14:00 One SA Movement leader Mmusi Maimane says the basic education department needs to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils when schools reopen on February 15. Image: Twitter/Mmusi Maimane
Mmusi Maimane has called on the basic education department to ensure classrooms and schools are safe for teachers and pupils when schools reopen on February 15.
The One SA Movement leader said there needs to be a vaccination programme that will ensure the protection of staff and pupils, and personal protective equipment (PEE) must be provided.
“We cannot, like we saw last year, have weeks in which some schools had PPE and others did not. We have to deliver all PPE to schools. We have to fix infrastructure at all schools.
Teacher unions are outraged by the department of basic education’s decision to get school management teams (SMTs) and teachers to return to school weeks before pupils arrive.