‘Back to school’ date moved
SCHOOLS in the Province will now only reopen on June 8, after the Northern Cape Department of Education admitted yesterday that it was not ready to reopen schools this coming Monday.
Grade 7 and matric pupils in the Province will now return to class on June 8.
The MEC for Education, Mac Jack, said schools would reopen on June 8 regardless of the number of pupils.
The new date was announced following assessment visits by the MEC, unions and school principals on Wednesday to determine the readiness of schools in the Province.
Unions, as well as many parents, opposed the decision of the department to reopen schools on June 1, stating that the department and schools were not ready.
School principals and school management will now return to work on Monday, June 1, while teachers are expected to be at school from June 3.
“All educators must return to work when schools reopen,” Jack warned at a press conference yesterday.
A total of 12 606 Grade 12s and 24 995 Grade 7 pupils are expected to return to the 562 public and ordinary schools, independent and special schools on June 8.
Three special schools, Kleinzee, Elizabeth Conradie and Retlameleng, will open during the first phase.
Parents of pupils with comorbidities at the identified special schools have been advised to keep their children at home until the department finalises discussions, which are under way, for the provision of support for these pupils.
The announcement of the new school date was welcomed by various unions yesterday, which said that the extension would provide the department with an additional 10 days to prepare for the reopening.
The unions, however, demanded an audited checklist that determines whether all measures have been taken in order for schools to reopen before educators report for duty.
The department promised that principals and school management teams (SMTS) would prepare personal protective equipment (PPES), of which 90 percent should be delivered by Thursday, to ensure that schools are ready for the return of pupils.
Items for the basic hygiene packs include liquid soap, hand sanitisers, surgical gloves, protective face shields, cloth masks, plastic aprons, disinfectant, thermometers and biohazard bags.
Face shields will be supplied to all educators, ECD practitioners, food handlers and deaf pupils in special schools.
The MEC stated further that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual had been developed for schools to provide guidance on the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.
Training of food handlers of the
National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) on the prevention of Covid-19 will commence on the first day of schooling.
The department stated that it had collaborated with the Department of Social Development for 21 social worker graduates to assist with psycho-social support at schools.
Comorbidities
“We are busy conducting an audit for staff with comorbidities and those who are 60 years and older. The DPSA Circular 18 of 2020 indicates that, in deciding an employee’s appropriateness to work remotely, the head of department (HOD) should consider the higher risk Covid-19 poses to vulnerable employees, including those over age 60 and those with comorbidities.”
According to Jack, provision has been made to cater for substitute educators for a minimum of three months.
A database of unemployed educators has been compiled for substitute educators.
Meanwhile, a total of 1 976 screeners will be appointed at schools based on the pupil enrolment per school.
The Frances Baard will receive 572 screeners, John Taolo Gaetsewe 532, ZF Mgcawu 347, Pixley ka Seme 322 and Namakwa 203.
The department has also finalised the appointment of 1 478 out-of-school youth to assist with the daily screening of educators and pupils.
According to the MEC, the health and safety of the 1 967 Grade 12s and 1 562 Grade 7s who are dependent on pupil transport will also be treated as a priority.
“The department will provide sanitisers to operators to disinfect their vehicles on a daily basis before transporting pupils. A total of 349 vehicles transporting Grade 7 and
Grade 12 pupils will benefit from this programme,” he promised.
In terms of cleaner posts, a total of 645 critical cleaner posts have been identified for appointment in schools.
Regarding the 99 vandalised schools throughout the Province, Jack said they have commenced with maintenance and repairs at these schools.
He said that four schools that did not have any water supply have been provided with water tanks for hygiene purposes, while 39 additional schools have been supplied with additional water points and water tanks for storage.
The Suid Afrikaanse Onderwysers Unie (SAOU) indicated yesterday that it was in full support of the newly announced date and pledged its full support towards the success of the new academic year.
“We are now determined that the educators and the pupils might be ready along with the department,” said SAOU provincial secretary Henk Brand.
The Provincial Educators Union (PEU) said it appreciated the fact that the department had admitted that it was not ready.
Provincial secretary Neo Letsholo said they were puzzled by the department’s circular, issued on Wednesday, instructing principals to report for duty on May 28.
“We did not agree with this and saw it as a political bombshell after they discovered the situation on the ground level.
“Most of the schools were not ready.
“We agree that they need this week to re-establish themselves and get their house in order by visiting all other districts to ensure that all measures are put in place.”
Letsholo indicated that the MEC had agreed to supply them with an audited checklist to confirm that all procedures had been followed for teachers to report for duty and pupils to return to school.