Teachers’ unions press ahead with call to close
TEACHERS’ unions are not backing down from their demand for a total shutdown of schools while the Covid19 pandemic is surging and continues to claim more lives and infections.
Yesterday, the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and other unions – the National Teachers Union, Professional Educators Union, Naptosa and SAOU – vowed to continue with their demand to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga when the parties meet tomorrow.
The meeting was initially scheduled for yesterday but the unions were informed late on Tuesday about the postponement.
Detailing reasons for the postponement, Motshekga’s spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, said she was engaged in broad consultation with all stakeholders in the education sector.
“The purpose of the meetings will be to obtain input on the issue regarding the peak of the Covid19 pandemic as it relates to schools. The consultation in the sector will be concluded on Friday,” Mhlanga said.
He said the engagements with players in the sector would inform the minister’s proposals to the Cabinet, which was due to meet over the weekend.
According to Mhlanga, the Cabinet is expected to make an announcement on whether schools should remain open or close until the pandemic has subsided.
“We wish to restate that the decision to reopen schools was taken by the Cabinet after extensive consultation which culminated in the phased approach to the resumption of duty in the sector,” Mhlanga said.
He said that, for now, educators and learners were expected to report for school until the Cabinet decided otherwise.
Earlier, Motshekga said: “In terms of the directions, schools that have demonstrated the ability to adhere to the health, safety and social-distancing measures, and are able to settle additional learners faster and easier, will be allowed to continue phasing in more grades.” She said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19, the Department of Health, and the Basic Education Sector would continue to closely monitor the developments in schools, in terms of the virus and the pandemic, and advise the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) and the Cabinet accordingly. The CEM would continue to monitor and evaluate the situation on a weekly basis.
“The government is extremely concerned about teachers, principals, non-teaching staff who use any platform to attack the government for going back to work; ostensibly creating an impression that they should be treated differently from the rest of the public servants.
“CEM has resolved to take legal action against all individuals and groups that continue to disrupt schooling. We would like to emphasise the fact that the reopening and closure of schools is a legislative responsibility accorded to national and provincial authorities only,” Motshekga said.
She warned that groups and individuals who were not empowered by law did not have the authority to close schools.
The unions, however, were adamant that there was scientific evidence that the virus was airborne. Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke confirmed that they were meeting with Motshekga tomorrow and that their demand had not changed at all.
Yesterday, the Gauteng Department of Health also confirmed that the infection rate of the virus was on the increase in the province, the country’s epicentre.
Gauteng health spokesperson Kwara Kekana said the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Gauteng as at Tuesday was 107 070, with 40 144 recoveries and 726 deaths.
“Out of a total of 45 429 contacts traced, 27 755 people have completed the 14-day monitoring period with no symptoms reported and therefore they are de-isolated.
“A total number of 5 576 of people are currently hospitalised in public and private facilities,” Kekana said.