‘Safety first’ when Gauteng learners return on Monday

Gauteng will apply a safety-first approach when Gr 7 and Gr 12 learners return to school on Monday, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said earlier today, during an update session by the Provincial Command Council.

He said there are certain non-negotiables that will apply when schools reopen, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including masks that must be worn, social distancing measures, sufficient water and sanitation, and the screening of learners.

“I can confirm today that there is not a single school, district or office that assists us with education, that has not received PPE,” he announced.

In terms of the cleaning of schools, he said Bidvest had sanitised all administration buildings, head office buildings, district offices and teacher centres. Of the 577 centres, 572 have been cleaned, with the remainder being finalised this weekend, he said.

He said 1 725 schools received funds to undertake the cleaning themselves, and have today as deadline to submit readiness certificates.

Lesufi said it was regrettable that 69 schools may not open on Monday as a result of vandalism.  A total of 351 schools had been vandalised, with some having been set alight.

An amount of R147 million was put aside to assist schools that don’t have perimeter fencing, since without a fence any person has access to a school without having to go through the screening process, Lesufi said.  A total of 1 800 youth brigades have been trained and will be dispatched to record the details of, and screen learners at quintile one and two schools.

In terms of scholar transport, the MEC announced that anyone who transports learners in the province will henceforth have to be registered.  This includes private and subsidised operators. “Once they are registered, we will provide them with the relevant support, including PPE,” he said.  The youth brigades would also be dispatched to work on school buses.

A total of 11 teachers and one learner have thus far tested positive for Covid-19, in which cases all protocol was followed, he announced.

“The schools were closed, disinfected and deep-cleaned, and the teachers isolated.  We traced their contacts and ensured the relevant support.”

Lesufi said parents who opted to not send their children to school should register for home-schooling.  The application closing date of July has been extended to September, and where home-schooling previously applied only up to Gr 9, it will now apply up until Gr 12 subject to discussions with the minister, he said.

In conclusion, Gauteng Premier David Makhura wished learners a fruitful Youth Month, saying he has witnessed how young people have embraced the protocols of social distancing and health measures.

“History will show that during Covid-19, the youth played their part.  We are counting on you to re-imagine the future, a radically transformed society, and to see the current problems as challenges that must be overcome,” he concluded.

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