Unions slam school return

TEACHERS’ unions have slammed the government’s decision to allow more grades to return to school on Monday.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) said it was a regrettable decision.

This comes after Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s department announced that it had reviewed its decision to allow six grades to return to school, saying only grades R, 6 and 11 would go back. The other grades would return later this month.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said yesterday it was concerned as some schools were still struggling with grades 7 and 12 returning.

He said schools would be overwhelmed and risk the spread of Covid-19 infections.

He said the union would monitor these grades and schools that are not ready should be shut down.

“Our organisation had made a submission to the minister that we should not be introducing additional grades. We had hoped no additional grades would be introduced to allow the system to be stabilised. It is a regrettable move,” said Maluleke.

Hundreds of pupils and teachers have been infected, he said.

Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel said the union had pleaded with the Department of Basic Education not to allow more grades to return because provinces were not ready.

“If they are not ready today, how can they be ready on Monday?” Manuel noted.

“Naptosa was asking the minister that we postpone the return until August because the provinces are not ready and the research we have done with the other unions shows the provinces are not ready.

“We would rather have the children return in August,” said Manuel.