Education bigwigs slate bid to disrupt schooling
"The unfolding political ballgame does not belong in schools."
The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) is considering ‘strong’ legal action against ongoing efforts by organised bodies to disrupt schools.
The council, led by basic education minister Angie Motshekga, said it was ‘dismayed’ by ongoing sporadic attempts by political and civic organisations to disrupt learning at some schools around the country.
“These organisations have threatened teachers and learners, while others have gone to court and failed to stop the schools reopening,” said education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.
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“They are bent on resorting to threats and disruptions to achieve their intended goals.”
The council appealed to all aggrieved political and civic organisations to engage with their political counterparts and authorities at their usual platforms.
“These platforms are appropriate avenues to register concerns and complaints,” said Mhlanga.
“The unfolding political ballgame does not belong in schools.”
Mhlanga said it was regrettable leaders would choose schools ‘as a theatre of political posturing and muscle-flashing while the department of basic education is working on creating a safe environment for learning and teaching under Covid-19’.
Motshekga warned political and civic organisations they would soon face legal action if these disruptions continued.
“Failure to desist from these regrettable acts will leave us no choice,” she said.
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“We are disappointed these organisations have neglected to recognise the efforts of the department to provide alternatives for parents who out of well-founded anxiety and fear wish not to return their children to school. Some parents wish not to return their children to school because children have comorbidities. This is a fact well-understood and embraced by the department.”
“For these parents, we’ve made provision for home education. This option is available and can be accessed by applying at provincial education departments,” said Motshekga.
Minister Mrs. Angie Motshekga:
“We are not underestimating & undermining that we are living in a very difficult and scary period. The virus is going to be with us for some time, and therefore we have no choice but to live side by side with the virus.”#BackToSchoolSA #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/i8GTUomVwW
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) July 10, 2020
The DA also condemned organisations advocating for schools to close due to increasing Covid-19 cases in GautengDA Gauteng education spokesperson Khume Ramulifho said this was aimed at gaining publicity at the expense of learners.
“The reasons provided by these organisations on why they want schools to be closed are not based on any expert advice. They are intended to instil fear amongst parents, learners, and teachers.”
Ramulifho said the DA believed that only schools without the necessary personal protective equipment and basic services were deemed not fit to operate.
She said these schools were only to function once all the necessary required equipment and resources were available to ensure that they adhere to standard health regulations.
She said it was unfortunate many people who were advocating for schools to close had access to homeschooling and online platforms. She said the DA noted the increasing number of Covid-19 daily cases; and as the country was not on hard lockdown, schools were a safer place for many learners who were roaming the streets doing nothing.
“We urge principals to ensure they follow the regulations and implement standard operating procedures when there is a positive case reported.”
She said learners who were back at schools were settling in well as learning and teaching continued under the ‘new normal’.
“We urge parents not to be misled by these organisations who want to close down schools.”
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