Teacher union the reject re-opening of schools
SADTU and lobby group Equal Education says schools need better preparation before re-opening.
South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) has rejected the re-opening of schools in May tabled by the Department of Education to parliaments’ DBE committee on Wednesday.
SADTU General Secretary Mugwena Maluleka said the department should ensure that all schools meet health standards that would prohibit Covid-19 transmissions once re-opened.
SADTU demanded schools be disinfected and fumigated and proper school infrastructure – toilet facilities and classrooms – to be provided before the re-opening of schools.
“If stage 4 regulations are to be adhered to, there should be no re-opening of schools under stage 4. Minister Angie Motshekga should meet with stakeholders before any announcement is made and make sure the Department of Health has expertly assessed the risks,” Maluleka said.
SADTU further demanded social distancing inside the classrooms and on courtyards, reduction of class sizes, provision of soap, sanitisers and masks, screening of learners, teachers and support personnel.
“There should be provision of psychosocial services to assist learners as well as teachers to build resilience and calm fears among learners and teachers,” he said.
The union further rejected the adaptation of the international Covid-19 school calendar by the department. It suggested the department use local context, culture and data to inform its decision.
“We have called upon everyone to contribute towards the solution but it is now clear the Department of Basic Education
is engaging in bad faith and this is undesirable when we are faced with a virulent and contagious pandemic. We can’t allow them to liquidate our workers and students.”
Meanwhile, civil rights lobby group Equal Education (EE), said the group was “deeply” concerned over the move to re-open schools.
The group believed the department has not demonstrated it can prevent the spread of Covid-19 and may not by the time proposed for re-opening.
“Many questions remain about how basic education authorities will ensure that schools in poor and working class communities are prepared to mitigate against the health risks, and are able to support the learning of children who have been (and continue to be) unable to learn from home due to factors such as lack of access to the internet, to devices, or to electricity,” the group said.
The group raised its concerns over the national school nutrition programme and how it will be conducted under Covid-19 outbreak.
The department is set to provide mobile toilets to schools replacing pit latrines that are in most rural schools, however, the group was not convinced that all these plans can be implemented on time.
“The department has been slow to fix our schools, and it must provide comprehensive information on the implementation of these emergency measures.”
The group also raised its concerns over the decision not to provide schools, in quintile four and five, with masks by the department.
“The failure to provide masks to these children would be a severe omission.
“It is unclear how the current plan will enforce social distancing rules.”
The groups said there were no concrete plans for pupils who stay in hostels and attend schools far from home, including those living with disabilities.
“While the DBE presentation noted the different Covid-19 alert levels, it did not clarify whether schools would remain closed in level 5 areas even if other districts have moved to level 4,” the group added.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga is set to present the department’s official plan later on Thursday.
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