Confusion over matric reopening
There is huge uncertainty and confusion over whether schools can legally open tomorrow for matric pupils, because their return date has not been gazetted.
This is according to school governing body associations and teacher unions, which have slammed the department of basic education for failing to gazette the new school dates, despite assurances that they would be published by Thursday.
Yesterday’s release of the revised school calendar by the department did little to clear up the confusion at schools, as it only indicates schools will be on a break from July 27 until August 23.
On July 23 President Cyril Ramaphosa said schools will go on a month-long break, but grade 12 pupils will return on August 3 and grade 7s on August 12.
The school governing body associations and unions insist that Ramaphosa’s announcement is not law as the amended date for the return of grades 12 and 7 will only be valid if they are gazetted by basic education minister Angie Motshekga.
According to the proposed gazette, which the Sunday Times has seen, grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10 and 11 are expected to return on August 24, and grades 5 and 8 will be phased in on August 31.
Anthea Cereseto, CEO of the Governing Body Foundation, said it is dismayed that more than a week after the president’s announcement, the amended directions for the return of the grades have not been gazetted.
She said many governing bodies have expressed concern over the department’s failure to publish the amended directions.
“Strictly speaking, the president’s dates for the phasing in of grades were not within the framework of the law. We need published directions,” she said.
Basil Manuel, executive director of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA, said: “The fact that the directions and the matric timetable are still outstanding is aiding and abetting the confusion that is out there.
“Schools actually don’t know what to do come Monday. There are too many voices out there saying different and conflicting things, and that’s the problem.”
Ben Machipi, general secretary of the Professional Educators’ Union, said the failure to publish the gazette was going to result in huge confusion, as many parents won’t know whether they should take children who stay in residences back today.
“We are just afraid that it might be the confusion that was caused when schools were supposed to reopen on June 1 and parents were told on the Sunday night that they won’t be opening.”
Basic education department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga confirmed to the Sunday Times yesterday that matrics will return tomorrow.
“There shouldn’t be any confusion. The message has been consistent that grade 12s be given priority, and there has been no opposition to this.”
He said the gazette was a legal process that involved other government entities.
“It will be issued to the public early in the week,” he said.
According to the revised calendar, there will be a break from October 26 to October 30 to separate the third and fourth terms.
Matric exams will be completed by December 15.
The new school year for 2021 will start on January 25 for teachers and a few days later for pupils.