Classroom confusion: Parents in the dark over school feeding scheme, while unions contest start of school year
The start of the school year has brought with it confusion (Randy Fath/Unsplash)
On-again, off-again school nutrition programme set to restart by end January but governing bodies are in the dark.
The Department of Education is set to resume the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) in the last week of January 2021, even if learners are not yet back in class.
Yet, a member of the National Association of School Governing Bodies representatives in Limpopo says the plan has not been communicated to them a sign of the miscommunication that has plagued the implementation of the feeding scheme.
A proposal to delay the reopening of schools is expected to be made by education authorities to the national coronavirus command council .
City Press has learnt that education stakeholders met with the department of basic education director-general Mathanzima Mweli on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
Two unions and a national school governing body organisation have confirmed that it was agreed that the department would propose the delay of the reopening of schools on January 27 to a later date in February.
Chris Klopper, CEO of the Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysers Unie, told City Press on Thursday that they were aware of the proposal.
The plan to reopen schools at the end of the month has come under fire from parents and teacher unions alike who believe the country cannot afford to risk the lives of children in the face of a rampaging pandemic.
Education department mum on ‘glaring’ failures to provide safe start to 2021 academic year Lack of state Covid-19 resources will speed pandemic and eat into attendance and admissions 12 January 2021 - 11:08 By Gugu Phandle Many parents are reluctant to send their children to school during the pandemic. Image: FILE/ Sandile Ndlovu
Education unions and experts have warned that a lack of state-funded Covid-19 resources at schools will both exacerbate the pandemic and cause 2021 attendance and admissions to drop.
Mongameli Peter, who chairs the Eastern Cape chapter of the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB), warned there was general anxiety and reluctance “to release children to go back to school”.
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