Naptosa welcomes early closure of schools
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) has welcomed the news that schools will shut this week for the winter holidays.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said all schools must close by Friday as part of a raft of new restrictions to combat a surge in the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant.
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The union's Basil Manuel says they're pleased with the plan.
"And the plan we believe goes hand-in-hand with banning gatherings, not having social functions because sending young adults out there when all that can happen is a recipe for disaster.”
But Manuel admits there are still some unanswered questions.
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"Is it Wednesday or Friday? Because schools actually need time to wrap up before they close. Are we shifting the holidays or are we begging the holidays earlier, by a week? This is essential because by simply shifting the holidays, what if we have the peak being later in certain provinces.
"The return of the primary schools to full time schooling at the beginning of the new term when is that going to be? Is that shifting as well?"
The Covid-19 vaccination drive for teachers began last week.
