Today's Labour News

City Press reports that SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) general secretary Mugwena Maluleke opined on Friday that provinces would not be ready to reopen schools by 1 June.  

There has been growing concern about putting teachers and pupils at risk of being infected with the Covid-19 coronavirus if they returned to schools by that date.  Maluleke explained further:  “This is because the provinces were far from ready to comply with the Covid-19 regulations, that is, screening, disinfecting the schools and offices, and delivery of the PPEs as required.  We are convinced as Sadtu that the provinces will not be ready by June 1 because they were not ready for the return of school management teams on May 11 (as prematurely announced).”  Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers of SA (Naptosa) said with reference to the basic education department’s contention that the system was ready that “seven of the nine provinces had not left the initial starting block and the other two provinces were not 100% ready.  We asked how she (basic education minister Angie Motshekga) could declare that the system was ready.  We highlighted glaring problems, such as the lack of delivery of PPEs.”  Manuel said it was likely that schools would reopen in June, but not on the first day of the month because there were still lots of blank spots.  Chris Klopper of the Suid Afrikaanse Onderwysers Unie (Saou) said on Thursday that a number of provinces were nowhere close to being ready to commence this week.  “In fact, it is clear that several district offices are not functional,” he claimed.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Msindisi Fengu at City Press
• Read too, Schools in Covid-19 hotspot areas could remain closed, at News24
• And also, We are in the dark, principals protest, at City Press

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page