‘We’re not sure when schools will reopen’
PARENTS must brace for children being away from school for a while longer than was anticipated.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it was unsure when schools would reopen.
Schools across the country went into early recess this month as a preventative measure against Covid-19.
Yesterday, Minister Angie Motshekga said it was still too early to say when schools would resume but said it was untrue that schools would only be reopened in September.
Motshekga said: “The truth is that the Council of Education Ministers at a teleconference meeting this morning (yesterday) extensively deliberated on preparations for the opening of schools after the lockdown is lifted. The exact dates for the opening of schools for the start of the second term will be communicated at a later date.
“The DBE is also finalising a standard operating procedure for the basic education sector to provide guidance to schools and education offices on how to prepare for the opening of schools. The department is in discussion with the National Treasury and all our provinces on the provision of a minimum health package to schools.”
Motshekga said in the interim, parents and children could find educational content on TV and radio from April 1.
There will be lessons broadcast on SABC TV, radio stations and DStv channel 180, among others.
There will also be free access to Vodacom Virtual Classroom and the Siyavula maths and science support.
Motshekga said the department was aware that poor children depended on the school feeding schemes for meals.
She said her department would work with the Department of Social Development (DSD) to identify families in need of food.
“This is a complex matter to resolve especially when learners are not in school. Nutrition support will be provided to families in the poverty nodes which are operated by DSD. The thinking is that one member of the family will be allowed to collect food parcel once a week during the three weeks for the use of the entire family. This is to ensure social distancing,” she said.
The minister urged parents to comply with the three-week lockdown that started today.
“It depends on all of us to flatten the curve of Covid-19, which is rising at a rapid pace daily,” she said.