SCHOOLS NOT READY NOW – NOR NEXT WEEK

THE FIASCO over reopening schools has left parents fuming and exposed the myriad problems facing the education sector.

Covid-19 has magnified the many years of poor planning, tender corruption and the yawning gap between privileged urban schools and the hardships faced by rural pupils.

It would be disingenuous to blame the coronavirus pandemic for the poor conditions. Covid-19 is not responsible for the lack of toilets, running water, dilapidated classrooms and sorry furniture. The government has not been blind to the problems faced by teachers and pupils in rural schools.

To its credit, millions of rand have been channelled to many construction companies to either build new schools or install toilets at those in need.

Sadly, corruption has been at the centre of failure to deliver on the plan to improve learning. Thieving companies have been allowed to pocket the money without doing the job, and face no consequences.

It was wishful thinking on the part of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to believe that she could fix many years of ineptitude in weeks.

What maybe is a source of anger for many parents is the attitude of denial within the ministry, that the problem goes beyond providing sanitisers and personal protective equipment.

Covid-19 requires that hygienic conditions be in place. No parent in their right mind would compromise the health of their child when the number of infections continues to rise.

A survey conducted by teachers’ unions showed that 55% of principals reported being ready to resume teaching and learning yesterday.

Independent Media yesterday reported that the results of the survey found that in terms of provision of face masks, all provinces scored below 25% except the Western Cape, which scored 84%.

The leaked survey concluded that some challenges are common across six provinces, such as:

● Inadequate water for Covid-19 requirements (six provinces).

● Water tanks not delivered (six provinces).

● Insufficient masks delivered (two per person) (eight provinces).

Why has it taken Motshekga and her team so long to get a plan in place that addresses these concerns? On this score the minister fails.

It is hard to imagine how this would be achieved by June 8.