Outcry at possibility of October school holidays being cancelled
The Governing Body Foundation (GBF) has rejected suggestions that the October school holidays should be cancelled to make up for lost time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This follows allegations that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) might be considering cancelling the October school holidays for the 2021 academic year.
Solidarity announced on Wednesday that its legal team is investigating the possibility of litigation against the DBE.
In a letter to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Johan Botha, deputy general secretary of the Professional Sector at Solidarity, said they are opposed to an amendment to the school calendar.
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“The Department’s action can be described as nothing but exploitation. Teachers are expected to be on duty for 21 consecutive weeks with only a short break in the form of an extended long weekend as a consolation prize.
"However, this is not consistent with the regulations. This action will negatively impact the performance of teachers and learners alike during the fourth term,” said Botha.
No official announcement by the DBE had been made on the issue yet by Wednesday afternoon.
