Teachers must adapt to the new normal, says Motshekga
Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga says the education sector is faced with a mammoth task to adapt to the Covid-19 virus.
Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of newly elected members of the South African Council for Educators (SACE), Motshekga said teachers need new skills.
"We believe that teachers need to refine their skills," she said.
"I don't know what to advise, but all I know is that they need to refine their skills. Or even in some cases go and learn some totally new skills which characterise the new normal which has been brought by the pandemic."
She added: "Those who have not transitioned into the realm of online teaching and learning have found themselves being compelled to learn new skills and learn them fast."
Motshekga said the usual way of planning will not be effective as experts have warned that South Africa is likely to hit the fourth wave before the end of 2021.
READ: Outcry at possibility of October school holidays being cancelled
"We have to act now, we have to save the situation now because the ship is sinking right before our eyes," she added.
Meanwhile, the Basic Education Department says it will be meeting on Wednesday to discuss a way forward after its proposed plan to cancel the upcoming school break received push-back.
Officials had said such a move would help schools catch up on lost academic time due to the pandemic.
"One of the options that we thought we could apply was the doing away or the removal of the October holidays because they were going to help us to get back those days," says the department's spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.
"So we have considered that and we have since held a series of meetings with the stakeholders and it seems they are opposing that particular move and as a department, we are going to meet later today [Wednesday] with provinces to consider our options."
