Some schools given DoE go-ahead

SOME schools in the King Cetshwayo district were given the thumbs-up by the KZN MEC for Education this week for their preparations ahead of the reopening of schools on 1 June.

This week Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, announced that the national command council and parliament approved the phased reopening of schools. Grades 7 and 12 will be the first groups to return to school, while other grades will be phased in gradually.

Teachers are expected to report to school on 25 May.

Proper sanitation of school facilities will be undertaken and sufficient supplies of sanitisers, masks and water will be delivered before schools officially open. A revised school calendar will also soon be gazetted.

Ahead of Motshekga’s announcement, KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, inspected the state of readiness at several Ngwelezana primary schools Ingweni, Phesheya, Thanduyise, Wood & Raw and Ndongande Primary.

His specifically inspected water tanks and hand washing stations at the schools. There will be five hand washing stations at each school and clear demarcation to ensure physical distancing.

An additional 4 500 water tanks will be provided to identified schools across the province.

‘We wish to reassure all education stakeholders that the safety of teachers, learners and employees was paramount in all discussions and decisions taken to save the academic year,’ said Mshengu.