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By Sne Masuku 
3h ago
The South African Student Congress (Stuff) on Wednesday rejected the report by the director general of the Department of Basic Education, Mathanzima Mweli, to the parliamentary education committee on the reopening of schools. The report proposed the gradual reopening of the school beginning with grades 7 and 12 returning on May 6.
The report was released Wednesday before the highly anticipated speech by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on the plan for the reopening of schools and the work done to prepare it.
Other teacher unions and members of the education portfolio committee felt that reopening schools would now be a hasty decision.
Eusa Secretary General Simphiwe Mpungose also asked parents not to send their children to school, saying that if they did now it would be “suicide and gross neglect” because there was no cure for Covid-19.
“We call on all responsible parents to ensure that no child is sent to school until a cure is found. It’s not worth risking the lives of 11 million students just to catch up on the curriculum.
“The safety of our children is paramount,” he said.
National Teachers Union President Alan Thompson said the time to reopen schools would be during the safest level two or three of closing.
He said that below level 4, there was still a State of Disaster and that schools should close.
“Ideally, the favorable time to reopen schools would be at level 2. The department has not been able to address the problem of overcrowding in its public schools for a long time.
“The suggested ratio of 20 desks per classroom, with no more than three students sharing a desk, remains abnormal. Transportation problems and the high possibility of infection on the bus to school is a high risk of drinking, ”said Thompson.
He felt that the risk to students, teachers, and other school employees was even greater now.
“Not only will it be a mistake to reopen schools at level 4, it will be irresponsible,” Thompson said.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) said it was adamant that no school should open until its concerns are met, including fumigation and disinfection of schools, adequate school infrastructure in the form of adequate restrooms and classrooms.
Sadtu deputy under-secretary-general Nkosana Dolopi said protecting teachers and students should be a priority.
The national coordinator of Things, Katleho Mangoejane, acknowledged that schools should reopen and suggested that if the department was serious about reopening schools, it should first disinfect all schools and evaluate students and teachers 14 days before it reopens. .
“We believe it is premature to open schools on May 6, starting with grades 7 and 12, because rural and municipal schools are overcrowded, and transportation will continue to be a problem as taxis can only carry a certain number of passengers.” said Mangoejane
Daily News
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