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More than 200 teachers have died after contracting coronavirus since the outbreak in their homeland in March.
Olivenhoutbosch High School pupils on their first day back on June 8, 2020. Image: Gauteng Provincial Government.
JOHANNESBURG – The Department for Basic Education said Thursday that at this stage it was not considering keeping schools closed next year despite the rise in COVID-19 infections among teachers.
More than 200 teachers have died after contracting coronavirus since the outbreak in their homeland in March.
The department said it had put contingency plans in place to get additional help from retired teachers and educators abroad to prepare for the 2021 school year.
Children are expected to return to classrooms in less than a month, and many parents fear sending their children back to critical areas for the coronavirus.
The department’s director general, Mathanzima Mweli, said: “The advice is to prepare for the year, we have also been working with other countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya, Nigeria and others that have gone through the second wave. The advice is that we have to put measures in place to coexist with the virus because we weren’t even sure how long it would take. “
The DG of @DBE_SA on the impact of COVID-19 in the basic education sector derived from the current wave. pic.twitter.com/PcrIprBkvj
Elijah Mhlanga (@ElijahMhlanga) December 29, 2020
Five days ago I received information that 14 teachers had died in 24 hours, yesterday 18 teachers reported having also died from COVID-19, 32 teachers in less than a week all disappeared, from a single province that reports. The mourning for this vacation is too much.
Elijah Mhlanga (@ElijahMhlanga) December 28, 2020
At this rate, we have a big problem ahead of us when schools reopen. Schools may not have teachers as a direct result of COVID-19.
Elijah Mhlanga (@ElijahMhlanga) December 28, 2020
I fear what the numbers will be when all provinces report the number of school personnel and teachers who would have died as a result of the virus. It is devastating. Let’s keep wearing masks, social distancing, and washing our hands. Compliance is critical.
Elijah Mhlanga (@ElijahMhlanga) December 28, 2020
Mugwena Maluleke of the South African Union of Democratic Teachers said next year would have many more challenges in the classroom amid a pandemic, including replacing teachers who died from the virus.
“We are calling for the decentralization of teacher appointment so that on the first day of school, the principal and the school district can appoint teachers.”
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