The Department of Education on Thursday (23/06/2020) made their intention clear regarding the second phasing of pupils on the 6 July, despite 523 learners and 1169 teachers being infected with Covid-19. On the 23 July, Minister Motshekga told the Parliament that her department is working hard to ensure all schools are COVID-19 compliant before they can receive learners.
The National Association of School Governing Bodies has cautioned the Department of Education regarding learners and teachers safety in schools.
In a statement the Association of School Governing Bodies said “We supported the opening of all COVID-19 compliant schools. We wish to register our worries as parents and governance structures in schools”
The Parent body has called on the Department to treat their concerns as a matter of urgency:
1. We still have schools that could not open and we are already expecting additional six Grades to open whilst water, sanitation, furniture and masks are still not available.
2. Schools in Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, North West are closing on COVID-19 cases as there is no common approach or guidelines to handle school Covid-19 cases. There is no communication with parents that has has resulted in anxiety and agitation in our communities.
3. It is seriously worrying that the Covid-19 related cases’ numbers are daily rising.
4. Not all schools were able to train parents and teachers in understanding the disease to reduce anxiety and stress as already reported in media resulting in high stigmatization in schools and communities.
5. The abrupt extension of NSNP to all learners without prior engagement with us as stakeholders and proper communication with SGBs for thorough preparation. No additional food handlers to assist especially in physical distancing.
6. The extension of NSNP to learners who are not yet home only benefits those who are walking to school as those who commute to schools are stranded and their safety compromised which may result in kidnap, rapes and trafficking of kids.
7. DBE has since promised stakeholders a detailed report by 10 June 2020 and the report is not forthcoming.
8. There are schools without educators due to comorbidities and no sign of substitutes in the past three weeks since reopening.
9. The issue of not allowing visitors to schools, equally understandable, has closed us out as Association of School Governing Bodies to do oversight monitoring as agreed with minister in the meeting.
10. DBE has not adhered to all non-negotiables as set.
11. All the Health and Safety precautionary measures be implemented, maintained and sustained in all schools including rural and farm schools.
12. The Department to assist all schools to resume teaching and learning using the systems in place, which include but not limited to platooning.
13. The Department to thoroughly assess the 6th July 2020 Second Phasing in of reopening from lessons of the Grade 7 and Grade 12 classes and report.
14. We condemn the secretive and not forthcoming approach by DBE officials on actual figures on affected and infected educators, learners and support staff in schools. This includes responsibilities that are blurred between role of DBE and Health Department in schools.