Thumbs up for risk-adjusted approach for schools

THE case-by-case approach of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to managing Covid-19 infections in schools, along with the announcement of vaccinations for all school staff, has been widely welcomed.

Minister Angie Motshekga at a media briefing on Saturday said the current situation the country found itself in did not warrant closing all schools. She said closures would be dealt with on a schoolby-school basis.

Equal Education (EE) and Equal Education Law Centre (EELC) said they had since last year appealed to the DBE to implement the risk-adjusted strategy so that teaching and learning can continue in schools in parts of the country where community transmission is low or at zero, allowing the same schools to later close when community transmission becomes high.

The organisations said while learners were at home, they were not receiving school meals and lacked academic support.

“Government must not allow Covid-19 to continue to widen the gap in our education system. Interventions that are responsive to the needs of our schools and that ensure equity must be implemented.

“The vaccination of school staff is critical and we will monitor the roll-out.”

All education sector staff are expected to start receiving their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccine in the coming week. The roll-out will include 582 000 teachers, administrators and support staff.