Unions slam decision to reopen schools
TEACHERS’ unions have slammed 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 this was a regrettable decision.
This comes after Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga’s department announced it had reviewed its decision to allow six grades to return to school. It said only three grades – R, 6 and 11 –will go back to school, the other grades will follow later this month.
But Sadtu general-secretary Mugwena Maluleke said yesterday that they were concerned with the return of these grades as some schools were still struggling with grades 7 and 12.
He said the schools would be overwhelmed and risk the spread of Covid-19 infections if the three grades returned on Monday.
Maluleke said they would now monitor these grades and the schools that were not ready should be shut down.
“Our organisation had made a submission to the minister that we should not be introducing additional grades,” he said, adding that they noted the decision of the Council of Education for Ministers.
“We had hoped no additional grades would be introduced to allow
If they are not ready today, how can they be ready on Monday?
Basil Manuel
NAPTOSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
the system to be stabilised. It is a regrettable move,” said Maluleke.
Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel said they had pleaded with the Department of Basic Education not to allow more grades to return to school because provinces were not ready.
“I am not convinced the provinces are ready. If they are not ready today, how can they be ready on Monday?” asked Manuel.
He said they preferred the learners to return only in August.
The cases of Covid-19 have been spreading with hundreds of learners and teachers infected in the past few weeks.
Manuel said Naptosa and the other unions had done research which showed the provinces were not ready. “Naptosa was asking the minister of basic education 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.”