Basic Education considering full-time return of all pupils
The Department of Basic Education says it is discussing the possibility of all primary school pupils returning to school full-time.
The department said on Sunday that it is ready to welcome teachers and pupils back to school for the second term.
The reopening of schools is happening at the same time as a Council of Education Ministers meeting on Thursday and Friday.
The impact of Covid-19 on the sector is also expected to form part of the discussions.
Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga says the council will discuss the matter.
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“In the meantime, schools will continue to apply the rotational approaches as the department
intensifies its implementation of the safety campaign aimed at saving lives and livelihoods.
“The proposal is now being considered at the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure where the department has since delivered a presentation at the relevant workstreams.”
Meanwhile, the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) says it is still concerned about the safety of pupils and teachers.
Naptosa executive director Basil Manuel says the full-time return of pupils should be discussed while keeping in mind a possible the third wave.
“The debate around the return of all school learners is a thing that we must engage in but Naptosa is of the view that it is not something that we can just jump in. We need to look very carefully at what the third wave is going to do, our overcrowded schools were the classes are very large and also we need to see that the timing is right.”
