Sadtu call pressures Motshekga
THE CALL by the majority of teachers’ unions to shut down schooling has given Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga a conundrum ahead of an all-important virtual meeting with union leaders today.
Motshekga was expected to face stiff opposition in her bid to convince teachers’ unions to withdraw their call and to allow schooling to continue amid reported deaths of learners due to Covid-19 and an increasing number of infections among teachers.
Sadtu’s call – which is supported by most unions – is for the suspension of schooling until the Covid-19 peak has subsided. As Sadtu made the call, Gauteng province, which has the highest population in the country, had already recorded more than 100 000 infections. The Eastern Cape and Western Cape have also reported a rapid increase in infection rates.
Detailing their call for the suspension of classes, Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the virus was reaching its peak during winter.
“The South African situation has provided another side of the virus where so many learners have been infected and seven have lost their lives.
“The evolution of the virus compelled the leadership to request a meeting with the minister to engage on how to respond, because this is a health issue and requires health experts,” Maluleke said.
The Professional Education Union and National Teachers Union have also come out in support of the call.
The unions are also unanimous in their calls to Motshekga to convene study camps for Grade 12 learners in “strictly controlled environments like camps”.
The unions said they would formally ask Motshekga to suspend classes with immediate effect today.
The DA has condemned Sadtu’s call and described it as “nothing short of reckless”. DA education spokesperson Nomsa Marchesi said the call “is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the completion of the academic year”.
“Those who are advocating for schools to close clearly have no understanding of the damage it will cause to the academic progress of learners, especially those in poorer communities.
“This is the worst form of grandstanding as they completely disregard any consideration of the reality of millions of learners,” Marchesi said.
But other political parties did not share the DA’s sentiments.
EFF spokesperson Delisile Ngwenya said her party supported Sadtu, saying the World Health Organization also warned that caution should be exercised prior to reopening schools.
“Right now we are totally against the opening of the schools. They should shut down and children must stay home,” said Ngwenya.
Similar sentiments were expressed by UDM secretary-general Bongani Msomi. “There is no need to prioritise education over a person’s life,” he said.
The IFP’s Mkhuleko Hlengwa also said his party believed in the phased-in approach to the reopening of schools.
Motshekga’s office had not responded to the calls at the time of going to print. However, the department issued a statement yesterday in which Motshekga said that government’s decision to “gradually lift the lockdown was, and still is, predicated on saving lives and livelihoods”.
“Schools, and the system, are dealing with a new environment, and we need to afford the opportunity and space to gradually settle in dealing with the new normal of operating under Covid-19, in line with the risks adjusted differentiated approach in reopening schools, otherwise schools may also become overwhelmed.
“The government is extremely concerned about teachers, principals and non-teaching staff who use any platform to attack it for going back to work, ostensibly creating an impression that they should be treated differently from other public servants.”