By OBAKENG MAJE
Chaotic moments are expected at various schools in the North West amid the return of more learners. Those who are expected to return to class are learners in Grade R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, and 11 as well as learners attending Schools of Skill in years 1, 2, and 3.
However, Grades 5 and 8, as well as learners with severe intellectual disabilities will return on 31 August. The North West MEC for Education, Wendy Matsemela said her department is ready to phase-in more grades on Monday following a four-week break for schools to avoid the surge of the Covid-19 virus.
“The province’s readiness approach includes provision for boarding school hostels with mobile hostels in order to comply with social distancing. On the other hand, the department sought to repair schools that were vandalised during the lockdown.
“About 129 schools in the province were vandalised. So far 112 of these schools are repaired while 17 schools still outstanding with contractors on-site in some. As the department, we carried plans that are both human and curriculum eccentric throughout the break,” she said.
Matsemela added that they are serious about the implementation of the COVID-19 non-negotiable at schools across the province. She said they have provided extra mobile hostels to Moedwil and Onkgopotse Tiro Combined schools in order to keep up to the social distancing requirement.
“Additional mattresses have also been supplied for the hostel at Boons Mega Farm School and dining rooms will be used on alternating times to allow social distancing. As the department, we have put measures in place to ensure that Grade 12 learners are supported to cover the curriculum.
“We have also shared the online platforms with schools, distributed printing material for the Business Studies, Accounting, and Economics Management, Physical Science, and Humanities. These tools were also distributed to FETs also arranged radio lessons and dial-a- tutor programmes were beneficial to learners including those who are homeschooling due to comorbidities”, said Matsemela.
She also sent her regards to all educators for their sacrifices during the difficult time of the pandemic, learners for their quest to acquire education and parents for their continuous support.
Meanwhile, the department’s Superintendent-General, Stephinah Semaswe is expected to monitor the return of learners at Reboneilwe Secondary in Coligny and Phatsima Primary school in Boikhutso near Lichtenburg on Monday, while Matsemela is expected to visit Motswedi Secondary and Borakallo Primary schools near Zeerust on Tuesday.
South African Teachers’ Union (SADTU) said all schools, colleges, and other centres of learning must fully comply and where there is no compliance, learners and education workers should not risk their lives.
SADTU deputy General-Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: “The NEC noted that the opening of schools needed to be well managed to avoid straining the system. The 50% or fewer learners per day based on the different timetables adopted by schools influenced by their contextual factors must ensure that physical distancing is not compromised.
“The NEC, however, noted that according to a joint teacher union survey on school readiness for the reopening of schools on 24 of August, 11% of schools were struggling to construct a timetable because of constraints of space and teacher availability.”
Dolopi lambasted the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said it should have used the short break from the 27 July to fix all the problems to contribute to the suppression of the community transmissions. He said the NEC also criticised the announcement of the date for re-opening of schools for 2021 by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) without consultation, ignoring the realities on the ground and realities presented by COVID-19.
The Guardian 