News24 reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has advised that schools will remain open even though the number of Covid-19 infections continues to soar.
During a briefing on Saturday, DBE Minister Angie Motshekga addressed the rollout of vaccines for the education sector and stressed that schools must remain open amid the third wave of infections. She said the DBE was not insensitive to the concerns raised about the rising infections, but believed schools must remain open. Motshekga went on to say: "The position is that we continue to handle Covid-19 cases according to the differentiated strategy, on a province-by-province, school-by-school basis. While there are disruptions in the sector, the majority of our schools remain fairly stable. Our social partners and key stakeholders expressed the same view in our engagement earlier today [Saturday]." Disruptions have been reported at approximately 100 schools due to the pandemic, but more than 25,400 others remain stable. Motshekga said schools should not shut down due to a single incident of Covid-19, however, they should isolate those who had been exposed. The vaccine rollout for teachers will begin on 23 June and continue until 8 July. A total of 582,000 teachers are expected to be vaccinated within this two-week period. All registered teachers will be vaccinated, regardless of age, as well as staff who transport children and feeding scheme staff.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
- Read too, Equal Education welcomes decision to keep schools open amid third wave, at News24
- And also, Rotational classes could create ‘a lost generation’, on page 2 of The Sunday Times of 20 June 2021
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page